3M, a multinational corporation based in the United States, has pledged to phase out the production of the forever chemicals, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), by 2025.
The development comes as lawsuits over PFAS damage have increased recently, with 3M being among the corporations sued by California’s Attorney General (AG) for reimbursement of clean-up costs last month.
Pressure on such PFAS-producing companies has also increased, as investors with $8 trillion in assets pushed 54 companies to phase out the use of forever chemicals. According to the details, 3M’s PFAS net sales are approximately $1.3 billion per year.
The company estimates that phasing out the forever chemicals will cost between $1.3 billion and $2.3 billion before taxes.
Joe Biden’s administration announced in August that it would propose adding some forever chemicals to the list of hazardous substances.
Meanwhile, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands have been working on a plan to reduce PFAS use, which they hope to implement in January.
It is important to note that PFAS are extremely hazardous not only to the environment but also to human health. Several scientific studies have revealed their link to cancer and heart problems.
The substances are difficult to decompose, and dangerous levels of their presence have been found in drinking water, soil, and food.
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