How Accelerating PFAS Regulations are Magnifying Your Business Risk

Sep 14, 2021 1:30 PM ET

How Accelerating PFAS Regulations are Magnifying Your Business Risk

Technological advances often come with mixed rewards. Plastics have life-saving applications but are also a pollutant, despite recycling efforts. Gas-powered vehicles have changed our lives for the better, but carbon emissions contribute to climate change. Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in a wide range of beneficial products and processes but regulations and bans have been gaining traction.

It has become increasingly clear that PFAS pose significant dangers to health and the environment. Industries are scrambling to prepare but it can be incredibly difficult to filter out the hype and determine where your business should be.

PFAS Regulation: Changes Are Mounting

Because PFAS are so prevalent and widespread, even if legislation hasn’t hit your particular state yet, it likely will — and perhaps sooner than you’d expect.

Caron Koll, a consultant at Antea Group and PFAS expert, predicted in May 2021 that we may be as little as a year away from PFAS receiving ‘Maximum Contaminant Level’ and ‘Hazardous Substance’ designation from the EPA, which will swiftly strengthen compliance mechanisms. Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements are already here and making this a more pressing concern, creating transparency, and heightening the pressure from a brand safety standpoint.

The public is putting pressure on lawmakers to further regulate the use of PFAS and they are listening.

Learn more about how regulations are changing and what action you can take in the full blog.