On February 7, 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced the REACH regulation restriction proposal for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) jointly submitted by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, covering about 10,000 compounds defined as PFAS, aiming to fundamentally ban the production, use and sale of all 10,000 PFAS chemicals in one fell swoop. The proposal is expected to be implemented by the end of 2023.
It can be said that once the restriction bill is implemented, it will have a very big impact on the entire chemical industry and the first chain. However, from a global perspective, the tightening of PFAS control has been a long-term trend, and how to deal with the challenges brought about by the PFAS ban has become a difficult problem for enterprises in various industries to deal with during the exemption period.
pfasWhyYesis restricted, or even forbiddenUse?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as C6-C14 PFAS, contain carbon-fluorine bonds with extremely high bond energy, which gives PFAS strong stability, such as waterproofing, grease resistance, reduced friction, high thermal stability and chemical stability.
With its excellent stability, PFAS has been widely used in a variety of industrial and consumer products. In the industrial field, PFAS is commonly used in the production and manufacturing of semiconductor chips, firefighting products such as high-efficiency fire-fighting foam, building waterproofing materials and automotive batteries. PFAS also plays an important role in consumer goods, where they are used in everyday applications such as furniture, electronics, clothing and textiles, as well as food and beverage packaging and processing equipment.
In such a wide range of application scenarios, the harmfulness of PFAS is also shocking. PFAS substances are not easy to break down, hence the name "permanent chemicals", and some types have been shown to accumulate in the environment and in people's bodies, and may even have serious health effects.
At present, in addition to the European Union, other regions have also strengthened the restrictions and regulations on fluoropolymers. U.S. states have issued bans on PFAS, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a review framework for PFAS to ensure that these chemicals have been thoroughly evaluated by the EPA before they are allowed into the commercial sector. In recent years, China has also formulated and promulgated corresponding restrictions and specifications for PFOS, the most representative PFOS substance, clarifying the industries and fields that prohibit the use of PFOS and its derivatives, and restricting and managing the production process of PFOS. In addition, the National Key R&D Program "Nano Pollutant Control Technology" also controls PFAS as one of the key pollutants.
European UnionpfasThe ban willWhat industries to bringEffect?
There is no doubt that if the EU's proposal to restrict PFAS regulations is passed, it will have a profound impact on many industries such as semiconductors, photovoltaics, automobiles, energy, and consumption.
Taking the vigorous development of new energy vehicles in recent years as an example, PFAS materials are widely used in fuel cells and power cables. In the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) of fuel cells, PFAS materials are a key ingredient that can improve the performance and stability of batteries. At the same time, PFAS materials are also used in the gas diffusion layer of fuel cells, gas and water sealants, and coolant circuits. In addition, due to the greater demand for electricity in new energy vehicles, the manufacture of wires and cables also requires higher performance and stronger corrosion resistance. These applications require different properties of PFAS materials, but they all require excellent chemical, mechanical and thermal stability.
Another emerging sector, the PV industry, will also be affected by the PFAS ban. As a clean energy source, many photovoltaic applications are installed outdoors, so its working conditions and environmental requirements can well cope with the changing environmental challenges, and its thermal stability, chemical stability and other key properties also need to rely on the stability of PFAS carbon-fluorine single bonds. In other words, while photovoltaic applications provide clean energy, they also have their own environmental safety hazards.
It is worth noting that China is one of the world's largest manufacturing countries, and many consumer and industrial products contain PFAS, which will have an impact on China's exports if the European ban on PFAS is implemented. According to the data, the value of fluoride imported by the EU from China in 2021 is estimated to be in the billions of yuan, especially since China's refrigerant exports currently occupy a large part of the EU's market. This means that most parts and components containing PFAS polymers will be subject to import and export restrictions.
Embark on research on alternativespfas, the company is taking active action!
Before the ban, can PFAS be a chemical as such an important replacement?
The answer cannot be generalized. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned fuel cells, PFAS for proton exchange membranes (PEMs) are currently not available as alternatives in the automotive industry (hydrocarbon multiblock copolymer electrolyte membranes are under development). In lithium-ion battery products, PFAS used as binders can be replaced by polyimide (PI), polyacrylic acid (PAA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), styrene-butadiene latex (SBR), etc.; PFAS used as an electrolyte can be replaced with LIPF6, and there is no alternative to PFAS for other purposes.
In other words, the alternatives to PFAS have a lot to do with downstream application scenarios. At present, most of the application areas are still being explored, and more and more companies in different fields have made active commitments to address and address the problem.
In the field of consumer electronics, Apple said in its official *** that it will gradually eliminate PFAS harmful substances from November 2022, restrict the use of harmful substances in Apple products, accessories, manufacturing processes and packaging through specifications and regulations, and invest a lot of research and development to actively find alternatives to create power cords and headphone cables that meet Apple standards to ensure the safety of users.
In the area of power transmission, Schneider is committed to phasing out fluorinated gases and PFAS gases (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in power transmission and distribution equipment to accelerate progress towards a more sustainable future.
In the face of the challenges brought about by the ban, companies need to first assess whether their products contain PFAS, and try to find and develop alternative materials with the same performance and environmental protection, so as to reduce their dependence on PFAS. Secondly, pay close attention to the latest policy developments on PFAS in various countries and regions, do a good job in compliance, and adjust corporate strategies and production plans in a timely manner. In addition, it is also necessary to strengthen communication with merchants and customers to ensure the continuity of the chain and the substitutability of products.
Strengthening close cooperation between the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain is an important way to solve the current challenges. In addition to the application side, some upstream raw material suppliers have long been aware of this trend and are exploring more new alternative solutions from the aspect of research and development. These solutions can be PFAS-free fluorochemicals or new alternatives to non-fluorinated chemicals. Taking Covestro as an example, PFAS alternative solutions have become a long-term key development project within Covestro, and the company has set up a dedicated team to actively promote the development of PFAS alternative solutions by increasing R&D efforts to address industry challenges with downstream enterprises. In addition, 3M has announced that it will withdraw from PFAS manufacturing and stop using PFAS in its product portfolio by 2025. DuPont is committed to ensuring that PFAS is used in a limited and safe manner through appropriate systems, processes and protocols, that its environmental impact is minimized to the highest standards, and that alternatives are actively sought where feasible.
Eliminating PFAS will not happen overnight. First of all, PFAS covers tens of thousands of industrially produced chemical substances, from material production to parts manufacturing to the final product online, and the industrial chain involved in the process is extremely complex. Companies often need to identify and collect which of their products and processes use PFAS before they can develop and find safer alternatives. This also means that material companies such as Covestro often need to play a more important pivotal role in this process, not only need to have a deep understanding of the needs of downstream applications, but also be familiar with material technology and have the strength to develop new solutions to help downstream enterprises meet regulatory requirements and maintain and enhance market competitiveness. It is reported that Covestro has already carried out in-depth cooperation with leading enterprises in many fields such as electronic and electrical, automotive and other fields, and this experience will further help its innovation and research and development in PFAS alternative solutions, and help downstream enterprises better cope with future challenges.
Conclusion: Prepare in advance, from crisis to opportunity
The PFAS ban is coming aggressively and will undoubtedly have an impact on some industries. While some alternatives to PFAS have been developed, there are still a number of key PFAS applications for which a suitable solution has yet to be found. Even if alternatives exist, finding low-cost, easy-to-produce, fully biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternatives is still a challenging topic that requires continuous research around the world.
Wise Chinese love to say "organic in crisis", and believe that the increasingly strict PFAS ban crisis will also prompt various industrial chains to accelerate the search and development of more environmentally friendly alternatives, and promote the upgrading and transformation of various industries. I believe that opportunity always favors those who are prepared.