FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About PFAS-Free*
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals with widely different physical and chemical properties.
PFAS-Free* means the substance is not a per- or polyfluoroalkyl chemical, with this qualification: "we do not intentionally add PFAS material in the product, but it does not exclude the possibility of traces, as these materials are common in the environment."
How is PFAS Defined?
The general category of PFAS is defined by chemical structure rather than physicochemical properties. These chemicals have been widely used since the 1940s, and their legal definition varies by region and institution. For example, the OECD defines them as follows: "PFASs are defined as fluorinated substances that contain at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom (without any H/Cl/Br/I atom attached to it), i.e., with a few noted exceptions, any chemical with at least a perfluorinated methyl group (–CF3) or a perfluorinated methylene group (–CF2–) is a PFAS." [OECD. Series on Risk Management No. 61, 2021].
Description
According to the OECD, there are over 4,700 substances in this category (OECD Comprehensive Global Database). In Europe, a recent analysis under REACH identified more than 9,000 PFAS substances. The PFAS family includes very different compounds in all states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and with different molecular weights, ranging from small molecules to large polymers.
Fluoropolymers are a subfamily of PFAS. The most well-known is PTFE, but many other materials fall in this category, including FEP, PCTFE, PFA, ETFE, PVDF, FKM, and FFKM.
What do we call PFAS-Free* or non-PFAS?
Description
Reports (see ECHA report XV Annex B) on the spread of small non-polymeric PFAS molecules show that these substances are ubiquitous in water around the globe due to their high mobility. This ubiquity, combined with the difficulty of detecting them at very low concentrations and the variety of their potential chemical structures, makes it impossible to certify that products are absolutely free of PFAS.
Our PFAS-Free* statement takes this into account. When we state PFAS-Free*, we mean that our materials and solutions do not contain intentionally added PFAS. We follow strict supply chain quality procedures to ensure this commitment to our customers.
Please note that some sources mistakenly use the terms "fluoride" or "fluorine" to describe PFAS. This is scientifically incorrect. Fluoride and fluorine refer only to the fluorine atom or anion and are not necessarily connected to polyfluoroalkyls. Fluorine anions are found naturally at relatively high levels in many different environments, including drinking water. The presence of fluorine alone does not mean a material is a PFAS substance.