Possible EU ban on forever chemicals poses threat to bloc’s climate targets – industry

An EU discussion to restrict the use of health and climate-damaging chemicals could bring the bloc’s energy and mobility transitions to a standstill, German industry associations warned. A blanket ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as forever chemicals, could be a threat to the EU's climate targets, as these are required to produce key technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicle batteries, storage systems and semiconductors, industry associations VDA, VDMA and ZVEI said in a joint statement. The associations call for a differentiated consideration for PFAS, saying that those substances for which there are currently no substitutes, and the ones that are not damaging to humans or the environment should continue to be available within industry. “There must not be disproportionate bans,” the statement reads, adding that many PFAS are currently indispensable for manufacturing key technologies for the energy transition. Forever chemicals that pose a risk to the environment and human health are to be substituted, as is already common practice, the associations said.

The EU had previously discussed phasing out the use of certain chemicals, covering between 7,000 and 12,000 substances, but could significantly water down the proposal following industry pressure, the Guardian reports. The European Commission said it would take into account that some PFAS are critical for energy transition technologies, and it would grant exceptions for specific applications “as long as they can be adequately controlled, and there are no alternatives,” Reuters reports. A vote on the matter is not expected until after 2025, according to the newswire.