Tue, 02 December, 2025
In response to increasing public concerns, litigation risk and regulatory requirements there is a growing willingness amongst chemical companies to phase out, reduce or avoid the use of persistent or hazardous chemicals, such as PFAS. ChemSec report that one third of world’s top 40 chemical companies are actively seeking alternative chemistries to allow them to migrate to safer or more sustainable alternatives.
BASF the world’s largest chemical group have announced that they will phase out the use of PFAS in their products, with a likely exit date being 2028. They will use their Sustainable Solution Steering (Triple S) method to monitor this phase-out process. Whilst BASF do not synthesise carbon-fluorine bonds in their production process they do offer products into the marketplace that fall under the definition of PFAS.
The evolution in the supply side of products that use persistent and/or hazardous chemicals is increasing the business risk for end-users of products whose manufacturing process is dependent on these materials. It is also driving innovation in alternatives and creating opportunities to show environmental, societal and technological leadership all of which is welcomed by workers, clients, consumers and investor boards.
To support our Industrial Members, TWI has launched two joint industry projects in the area of environmentally responsible materials; one focused on PFAS and one with a focus on hexavalent chromium replacements. These projects are expected to start in Q1 2026 and so there is still time to join.
To know more about TWI’s initiatives in this area and how to participate in those projects, feel free to visit the following links:
PFAS project: https://www.twi-global.com/what-we-do/research-and-technology/research-programmes/joint-industry-projects/pfas-assessing-and-addressing-the-business-risk-within-a-changing-regulatory-and-esg-landscape
Hevalent chromium replacement project: https://www.twi-global.com/what-we-do/research-and-technology/research-programmes/joint-industry-projects/sustainable-approaches-to-surface-pretreatment-of-additively-manufactured-aluminium-alloys