Facing mounting legal battles, 3M quits forever chemicals
A 3M plant during the pilot installation of a PFAS purification method in Antwerp on September 27th, 2022. | Photo by Nicolas Maeterlinck / BELGA / AFP via Getty Images 3M plans to phase out forever chemicals" over the next few years, the manufacturing giant announced today. The announcement comes as the company faces a slew of lawsuits over its toxic legacy with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or forever chemicals.
Specifically, 3M says it will discontinue the use of forever chemicals in its portfolio of products and exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025." Currently, 3M nets around $1.3 billion in annual sales of PFAS it manufactures. The chemicals have gone into many of its most iconic products over the years, including Scotchgard fabric protector. In the 1960s, the company also worked with the Navy to develop firefighting foam using PFAS.
PFAS are critical in the...