New York
Act Daily News
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3M, the conglomerate behind Post-It notes and Scotch tape, will cease making controversial per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by the top of 2025.
The chemical compounds, generally generally known as “forever chemicals,” are present in tons of of home items and used to make coatings and merchandise that may repel water, grease, warmth and oil. The most up-to-date science means that these chemical compounds are way more hazardous to human well being than scientists had initially thought and possibly extra harmful at ranges 1000’s of occasions decrease than beforehand believed.
In an announcement Tuesday, 3M mentioned its determination is “based on careful consideration and a thorough evaluation of the evolving external landscape,” acknowledging that rules are cracking down on the chemical compounds.
For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency introduced a proposal earlier this yr to label “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances. California additionally introduced a lawsuit not too long ago to recoup the clean-up prices from PFAS.
“While PFAS can be safely made and used, we also see an opportunity to lead in a rapidly evolving external regulatory and business landscape to make the greatest impact for those we serve,” mentioned 3M CEO Mike Roman in an announcement. “This action is another example of how we are positioning 3M for continued sustainable growth by optimizing our portfolio, innovating for our customers, and delivering long-term value for our shareholders.”
The firm expects to take a monetary hit of about $1.3 billion to $2.3 billion over the subsequent few years due to the PFAS discontinuation. Yet 3M
(MMM) mentioned PFAS represents a “small portion” of its income.
Over the previous decade, chemical producers have voluntarily stopped producing two of essentially the most generally used endlessly chemical compounds, together with PFOS and PFOA.
At the federal degree, the US Food and Drug Administration phased out the usage of sure PFAS chemical compounds in 2016. The FDA and producers agreed in 2020 to part out some PFAS chemical compounds from meals packaging and different gadgets that got here into contact with meals. However, FDA monitoring of the surroundings confirmed that the chemical compounds are inclined to linger.
– Act Daily News’s Jen Christensen contributed to this report.