Green groups push for end to indestructible pollutants

Environmental organisations CHEM Trust, Fidra, Marine Conservation Society, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Wildlife & Countryside Link have created an action plan for an economy free from Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – so-called forever chemicals.

There are seven actions aimed at stemming the flow of PFAS into the environment and at effectively protecting people and nature.

1. Stop PFAS emissions at source by restricting and reducing PFAS use in various sectors, starting with a swift transition to PFAS-free alternatives. The plan suggests two parallel restriction routes, an Express PFAS Restriction Route for readily replaceable uses and a Comprehensive PFAS Restriction Route for more complex cases.

2. Address additional routes of PFAS emissions such as during PFAS production, manufacturing, and disposal, proposing emissions thresholds in various regulations, for specific individual PFAS and for the sum total of several PFAS.

3. Develop stringent safety standards to protect people and wildlife for PFAS in drinking water, food, and the environment, focusing on the precautionary principle.

4. Lower the burden of existing pollution including legacy pollutants – targeting contamination hotspots and addressing legacy pollutants by identifying and eliminating sources.

5. Monitor and document progress on reduction of pollution in different parts of the natural environment and in humans to track progress toward a PFAS-free economy.

6. Support and incentivise development of PFAS-free alternatives with a just transition: The plan promotes economic incentives, financial support, and subsidies to facilitate the transition to PFAS-free alternatives whilst ensuring a just transition for affected workers and communities.

7. Push for global action via Stockholm Convention, seeking the listing of all remaining PFAS for global elimination and proposing changes to the convention’s criteria to include persistent and mobile chemicals.

Separately, the Drinking Water Inspectorate has recently sent tailored letters to water companies regarding future work on managing PFAS. The regulator said it anticipated the actions and commitments arising from these engagements to be published as formal undertakings in 2024.