Au Revoir to Forever Chemicals, Almost: France Takes Action against PFAS

A year ago, France began a journey with an ambitious goal: to enforce a comprehensive ban on harmful "forever chemicals" - PFAS - from everyday products. This grand effort recently concluded with a national ban on PFAS that has been lauded by health and environmental experts as a substantial step forward. But, there's a catch in this happy-ending story.

A 'Nonstick' Situation: Cookware Gets a Pass

Despite the national ban, certain items have managed to slip through. Due to aggressive campaigning by home appliances manufacturer Tefal, nonstick pans and other PFAS-containing cookware were not included in the ban. Amidst cheering for the victory against PFAS in the National Assembly, the continued use of these chemicals in cookware remains a significant concern.

What are PFAS exactly?

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, cosmetics, firefighting foam, and more. Disconcertingly, these chemicals, known as "forever chemicals", don't easily breakdown in the environment. Furthermore, they can cause harm to the liver and immune system and have also been associated with birth defects, developmental delays, and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Navigating the New Ban: What's In and Out?

France's new law will take effect next year, outlawing the manufacture, trade, and marketing of PFAS-containing cosmetics, footwear, certain textiles, and ski wax. From 2030 onwards, all textiles imbued with these chemicals will face the ban, with an exception made for protective clothing worn by firefighters and other professionals. So, while progress has been made, there's more ground to cover in the fight against the forever chemicals.

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