By the end of 2025, 3M, the corporation that makes adhesive tape and Post-It Notes, will stop producing controversial perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Many household items include “forever chemicals,” which are also used to create coatings and other products that can resist heat, oil, grease, and water. The latest research indicates that these chemicals are significantly more toxic to human health than previously anticipated, and possibly more so at concentrations thousands of times lower.
3M acknowledged that the laws are tightening on chemicals in a statement released Tuesday, saying its choice was based “on careful analysis and thorough examination of the changing external situation.”
“While PFAS can be manufactured and used safely, we also see an opportunity to lead a rapidly evolving external business and regulatory landscape to achieve the greatest impact for those we serve,” said 3M CEO Mike Roman. , in a statement to CNN. “This action is another example of how we are positioning 3M for continued sustainable growth by optimizing our portfolio, innovating for our customers, and delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”
The company estimates that discontinuation of PFAS would result in a financial loss of between $1.3 billion and $2.3 billion over the next few years. However, PFAS only makes up a “small fraction” of 3M’s (MMM) business, the company said.
Manufacturers of two of the most widely used durable chemicals, PFOS and PFOA, have voluntarily stopped manufacturing them for the past ten years.
The US Food and Drug Administration phased out the use of several PFAS compounds in 2016 at the federal level. In 2020, the FDA and manufacturers reached an agreement to phase out certain PFAS compounds from food packaging and other products that come into contact with food. However, the compounds tend to persist, according to FDA environmental monitoring.
