First published: 2/12/2025
In today’s business environment, scrutiny is higher than ever, and one silent threat keeps surfacing across industries Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Known as “forever chemicals”, these compounds pose risks that extend well beyond health and environmental concerns. For organisations, they bring the added burden of legal liability, brand damage, and unpredictable compliance costs. Do you know if PFAS are in your products, processes, or supply chain, and have you conducted PFAS testing to ensure compliance with regulatory standards?
Understanding PFAS: The ‘Forever Chemicals’ Explained
What are PFAS?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a broad class of synthetic chemicals that were first introduced in the 1940s. Their unique characteristic is the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond, which is among the strongest in chemistry. This exceptional strength gives PFAS a high resistance to heat, oil, stains, and water. These properties have made PFAS valuable in a variety of products, including non-stick cookware, firefighting foams, stain-repellent fabrics, and food packaging. While two compounds, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), are the most recognised, thousands (including “GenX” chemistries) are still in circulation globally.
Why are PFAS a Concern?
What made PFAS so worthwhile is also their most significant issue. They are not easily degraded in nature or in the human body. This leads to a build-up over time in soil, water, wildlife, and people, making PFAS testing and environmental testing critical. Scientific research has associated some PFAS with cancer, developmental delays, liver toxicity, and immune effects.
In business terms, this endurance can translate to financial risk exposure, costly clean-up, lawsuits, and PFAS reporting requirements that affect global supply chains. For companies, investing in robust PFAS laboratory testing and sound sampling/analytical methods is essential to avoid penalties and disruptions.
Why is PFAS Testing Crucial for Your Business?
The global PFAS testing market reached US$379.2 million in 2023 and surged to US$429.2 million in 2024, fueled by urgent regulatory demands and growing awareness. It’s projected to double, reaching US $969.5 million by 2030. The PFAS testing market is expanding rapidly, driven by regulation and stakeholder expectations. It’s projected to grow significantly this decade.
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
PFAS management is in rapid flux. Governments worldwide are tightening regulations, so laboratory testing is the only way to ensure compliance. Non-compliance can result in substantial penalties and lawsuits.
Protecting Brand Reputation and Consumer Trust
In the era of instant news, a single contamination incident can erase years of brand-building. Stakeholders now expect visible environmental responsibility. Going beyond minimum requirements with science-based testing demonstrates leadership and builds trust.
Mitigating Financial and Operational Risks
Ignoring PFAS risks can trigger a domino effect, regulatory fines, decreased asset value, disrupted supply chains and reputational harm. Early identification enables redesigns, supplier negotiations and targeted remediation before issues escalate.
Proactive Risk Management
Identify sources early, implement effective mitigation (e.g., substitution, treatment) and prepare for tightening limits to future-proof your portfolio.
The Science Behind PFAS Testing: Methods and Approaches
Overview of PFAS Laboratory Testing
PFAS tests must be conducted in labs with highly specialised equipment and protocols. Accredited, standardised methods provide legally defensible, accurate results.
Key PFAS Testing Methodologies
Targeted Analysis (LC/MS/MS): Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry detects and quantifies known PFAS at very low levels to meet regulatory requirements.
Total Organic Fluorine (TOF): Rather than identifying specific compounds, TOF quantifies organic fluorine. Useful for screening as it indicates whether any of the 12,000+ PFAS may be present that targeted methods could miss. It does not overestimate when applied adequately to organic fluorine only.
Total Fluorine Analysis (TF): Measures overall fluorine (organic + inorganic) to indicate potential PFAS presence; non-specific but helpful as a first-pass screening tool (follow up with targeted LC/MS/MS).
Eurofins Sustainability Services offers Targeted PFAS, Total Fluorine (TF) and Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) testing for consumer products (e.g., footwear and apparel) and other matrices, with advanced methods, expert interpretation and rapid reporting to support global PFAS compliance.
Sampling and Sample Preparation
Because PFAS are widespread, even sampling can introduce contamination. Avoid fluoropolymer (e.g., PTFE) tools/containers where possible; they can leach PFAS and affect results.
- Matrices (examples): Consumer products (textiles, footwear, apparel, cookware, food packaging, electronics, outdoor gear), as well as environmental samples where relevant.
- Best practices: Use appropriate materials, clean/condition tools, prevent cross-contact, and document the chain of custody.
- Common challenges: Ensuring representative sampling, avoiding PFAS contamination from packaging/handling and accounting for product heterogeneity.
Navigating PFAS Regulations and Reporting Requirements
Current Global Safety and Regulatory Standards
Regulatory efforts regarding Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are rapidly expanding beyond regional bans, transitioning toward comprehensive global frameworks that mandate rigorous product testing and supply-chain transparency. International frameworks (e.g., EU REACH, the Stockholm Convention, and China, Japan, and the UK) are expanding PFAS controls, driving product testing to verify compliance with limits and phase-outs across various markets.
- EU REACH: Restrictions on specific PFAS in consumer articles (e.g., textiles, food-contact materials) and a major proposal currently under review for a near-universal ban on all PFAS.
- USA (state-level examples): California Proposition 65 (warnings/chemicals lists) and sector-specific laws requiring analytical data or certified test reports for textiles, apparel, food packaging, children’s products, and more in jurisdictions such as California, Maine, Colorado and New York.
- Canada: PFAS controls related to consumer products (including testing/reporting for certain substances) and a general class-based regulatory approach for long-chain PFCAs.
- China: Implementation of Stockholm Convention obligations, including bans on the import/export of PFOS and specific restrictions on PFOA in consumer products (e.g., textiles, food-contact materials) under national standards (GB).
- Japan: Designation of PFHxS, PFOA, and their related compounds as Class 1 specified chemical substances, leading to prohibitions on their manufacture, import, and use in multiple product types.
- South Korea: Regulations under the Persistent Organic Pollutants Control Act manage PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS, setting testing thresholds in drinking water and regulating industrial emissions.
- Other international frameworks (including Australia, New Zealand, and the UK’s emerging UK REACH policies) with testing mandates are tightening limits, often focusing on phase-outs in critical sectors such as firefighting foams.
Key challenges include harmonising methods across labs, verifying supplier data, and aligning cross-border standards, making accredited testing and robust documentation essential.
Industry-Specific Testing Requirements
Affected categories include textiles, electronics, food packaging, cookware, and outdoor gear. Supply-chain transparency (declarations, test reports, audits) is increasingly necessary to prove compliance with PFAS limits where legally mandated. The textile, apparel, and footwear industries face exceptionally complex requirements due to the historical reliance on PFAS for Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finishes, water-resistant membranes, and stain-repellent treatments. Compliance testing in this sector must employ a tiered approach, combining targeted analysis (quantifying a specific list of regulated PFAS compounds, such as PFOA and PFOS) and Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) screening.
TOF testing is rapidly becoming a mandatory compliance tool, as seen in specific US state regulations (e.g., California’s AB 1817), because it measures all fluorine-containing compounds, serving as a necessary proxy for the thousands of unknown or unregulated PFAS variants.
Therefore, testing must move beyond finished goods to include a comprehensive examination of raw materials, specialised components (such as foams, dyes, and trims), and even process chemicals. Supply-chain transparency is non-negotiable; mandated declarations, detailed test reports at the fabric-finishing mill level, and robust third-party audits are increasingly necessary to demonstrate compliance with stringent, evolving PFAS limits.
Emerging Regulations and Future Trends
Looking ahead, emerging regulations indicate a significant tightening of market access, which will fundamentally transform the sourcing landscape. The most notable future trend is the movement toward universal bans on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This includes the extensive restrictions proposed under the EU’s REACH regulation, which would classify nearly all PFAS as non-essential, except for a few particular protective applications. Such regulations will impose stricter limits on products and broaden global scrutiny of “essential use. As a result, it is anticipated that the presence of PFAS in non-essential consumer apparel and footwear will be severely restricted by 2028-2030.
Building robust and proactive PFAS testing protocols and comprehensive documentation into early design controls, starting with the strategic selection of certified fluorine-free (C0) alternatives, is paramount. Adopting this integrated, phase-out approach now is the most effective way to eliminate the risk of costly late-stage redesigns, navigate fragmented global standards, and secure long-term market acceptance and leadership in chemical management.
Expect stricter product limits, wider “essential-use” scrutiny, and broader testing mandates across regions and sectors. Building PFAS testing into design controls now reduces redesign and market-access risk later.
Choosing the Right Partner for PFAS Laboratory Testing
What to Look for in a PFAS Testing Laboratory
- Accreditations/certifications: ISO/IEC 17025 demonstrates technical competence and the reliability of data.
- Experience with diverse matrices: Apparel/textiles, food-contact, electronics, complex composites, and coatings.
- Turnaround and reporting: Clear reports, defensible data, and timelines that match regulatory windows.
- Quality assurance: blanks, spikes, duplicates, and method detection limit transparency; rigorous contamination controls.
Questions to Ask Your Potential PFAS Testing Partner
- Which specific methods will you use (e.g., LC/MS/MS lists, TOF/TF workflows) and why for my matrix?
- How do you handle complex matrices (e.g., dyed textiles, multilayer packaging) and prevent false positives?
- What support do you provide beyond numbers, interpretation, corrective-action guidance, and regulatory alignment?
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive laboratory testing is essential for PFAS compliance, brand protection, and financial security.
- Regulations are expanding quickly, and businesses need to develop a long-term PFAS compliance strategy.
- Choosing an accredited, experienced partner for lab services, sampling, and analytical methods is crucial.
- Treat PFAS testing as a strategic investment to enhance supply-chain robustness and brand value.
As global regulations tighten and consumer awareness grows, brands can no longer afford to overlook PFAS-related responsibilities. Implementing a robust testing and monitoring framework not only minimises legal and financial risks but also strengthens brand credibility in an increasingly sustainability-driven marketplace. Early action ensures your products remain compliant, trusted, and ready for evolving international standards.
Partnering with a specialised testing provider gives your business clarity, confidence, and control. From identifying PFAS sources across your supply chain to guiding corrective measures and long-term mitigation strategies, expert support helps you build a safer, more transparent product ecosystem. With the right insights and tools, your organisation can lead with responsibility and stay ahead of regulatory expectations.
Don’t let PFAS risks compromise your business. Take the proactive step towards comprehensive PFAS management.
Contact us to schedule an exploration meeting, PFAS testing programme, or regulatory briefing tailored to your product lines and markets.
