From 'Forever Chemicals' to 'never chemicals'?

ST. PAUL, Minn.-3M has plans to discontinue manufacturing PFAS and stop using the materials across its product portfolio by the end of 2025, as the regulatory climate for the chemical is changing rapidly.

The St. Paul-based firm said in a recent news release that its decision to stop using the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances was "based on careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of the evolving external landscape, including multiple factors such as accelerating regulatory trends focused on reducing or eliminating the presence of PFAS in the environment and changing stakeholder expectations."

PFAS materials are critical in the manufacture of many products, including medical technologies, semiconductors, batteries, phones, automobiles, and aeroplanes. While 3M contends in its release that its products are safe for its intended uses, it is committed to working towards an industry that is less dependent on these chemicals.

3M said its plan includes the discontinuation of all fluropolymers, fluorinated fluids and PFAS-based additive products. The firm said it would help facilitate an orderly transition for customers and that it would fulfil all of its contractual obligations during the transition period.
In looking to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product lines, 3M said it had reduced its use of PFAS over the last three years through research and development initiatives, and that it will continue to seek new solutions for customers.
The company added, however, that it will address litigation by defending itself in court or through negotiated resolutions, as appropriate.
"This is a moment that demands the kind of innovation 3M is known for," Mike Roman, 3M chairman and CEO, said in a statement. "While PFAS can be safely made and used, we also see an opportunity to lead in a rapidly evolving external regulatory and business landscape to make the greatest impact for those we serve."
From a financial standpoint, 3M said its annual net sales of manufactured PFAS for 2022 was about $1.4 billion - out of total 3M revenues of $34.2 billion, with estimated EBITDA margins of 16 percent. Over the course of the exit from PFAS manufacturing, 3M said it expects to incur total pre-tax charges of about $1.3 billion to $2.3 billion, with about 70-80 percent of that to be non-cash. For its 2022 results, 3M took a pre-tax charge of $1.15 a share related to PFAS, according to its year-end results.
3M has made additional details regarding PFAS available on its website at 3M.com/PFAS.

PFAS in the news
PFAS has been making headlines in recent weeks.

On Feb. 1, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed suits against 14 firms, claiming they promoted the "so-called fluorinated forever chemicals" as safe while being aware of environmental contamination risks.
Companies named in the suit included 3M Corp., Dyneon L.L.C. (Dyneon now is a brand sold by 3M), Arkema Inc., BASF Corp., Clariant Corp., Bayer Corp., Chemours, DowDuPont Inc., Daikin America Inc. and Solvay Specialty Polymers USA L.L.C., among others.
On Jan. 30, Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Inc. settled a lawsuit brought by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Asahi is required under the terms of the settlement to investigate and remediate
contamination from the chemicals around its former compounding plant in Brighton, Mich.
It's the first settlement of 17 PFAS lawsuits Nessel brought against several companies in 2020. Nessel's office said additional lawsuits are proceeding in six separate cases. Lawsuits against 3M, Chemguard and DuPont are part of larger litigation in federal courts, while others are being litigated in Michigan courts.
And in the European Union, five countries - Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and non-EU state Norway - prepared and submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency on 13 January 2023 to restrict the use of around 10,000 widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - PFASs.  The contents of the proposal were published 7 Feb., showing that if passed, it would become "one of the largest bans on chemical substances ever in Europe.”
As the next step, ECHA’s scientific committees will present their evaluation, said Peter van der Zandt, ECHA’s director for risk assessment.  "While the evaluation of such a broad proposal with thousands of substances, and many uses, will be challenging, we are ready.”
Once the ban is in force, companies will be given between 18 months and 12 years to introduce alternatives to the more than 10,000 PFAS affected, depending on the availability of alternatives, according to the draft proposal.
The sector group FluoroProducts and PFAS for Europe  - FPP4EU -  whose members are made up of producers, importers, and users of fluorinated products and PFAS,  and other parties with an interest in the fluorinated products issued a statement in response to the publication of the proposal, stating that they knew from the start that this restriction was going to be a complex and challenging exercise. “It not only covers an unprecedented number of diverse substances, but also has a huge impact on many downstream products we use in our daily lives. At first glance, the current proposal may still restrict some applications that have been flagged to us as critical to society. That is why we have been working very hard to raise awareness throughout the value chain and to intensify collaboration between industry and authorities,” said Marleen Pauwels, executive director Halogens at Cefic.  FPP4EU members include BASF, 3M, Bayer, Solvay, Merck KGaA and Teflon maker Chemours.