PFAS Phase-Out Drives Sustainable Innovation in Textiles

Consumer CompactSoftlinesJan 19, 2026

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have played a pivotal role in the textile and footwear industries for decades as a family of functional finishing chemicals or performance polymers. These ‘forever chemicals’ delivered exceptional water repellency, stain resistance and durability, becoming the industry’s hidden advantage. However, mounting scientific evidence has now revealed their environmental persistence and potential health impacts, turning them into a significant regulatory and reputational risk in global sourcing.

Regulatory waves

Regulatory oversight of PFAS began in the early 2000s, when perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were added to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. In the decades that followed, restrictions expanded rapidly as international initiatives and scientific reports highlighted the widespread contamination and potential health effects associated with PFAS. This momentum drove the adoption of increasingly comprehensive laws and regulations worldwide.

By 2025, the regulatory landscape regarding PFAS had transformed significantly:

Europe: France banned PFAS in cosmetics, textiles and ski waxes,¹ while Denmark prohibited PFAS in clothing and footwear.² Building on existing restrictions under REACH Annex XVII and POPs, the European Chemicals Agency proposed an EU-wide restriction, including a total fluorine threshold of ≤ 50 mg F/kg³
United States: numerous states introduced PFAS bans, with California leading implementation. California's AB 1817 banned PFAS in textiles,⁴ while Proposition 65 (Prop 65) triggered lawsuits and forced brands to reformulate or provide warning labels. The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse also added PFAS to its restricted substances list⁵
Canada: new PFAS Reporting Rule requires businesses to disclose PFAS-related data⁶
Asia: China classified PFAS as Highly Restricted Toxic Chemicals and Japan regulated them under its Class I Specified Chemical Substances framework⁷

Enforcement has been swift. In early 2025, the EU Safety Gate initiated the first recalls of PFAS-containing apparel and home textiles. In California, multiple 60-Day Notices under Prop 65 prompted settlements, pushing brands to comply with new regulatory expectations.⁸

Together, these developments underscore a clear global trend: PFAS are being systematically phased out of consumer products and supply chains.

Challenges in phasing out PFAS

For sourcing professionals, navigating the evolving PFAS regulatory landscape has become a multifaceted challenge. Compliance is no longer a box-ticking exercise but a complex balancing act across performance, testing, transparency and regulatory alignment:

Performance gaps: non-fluorinated alternatives often fall short in water repellency and durability
Testing limitations: the absence of harmonized testing methods complicates compliance, leading to discrepancies across regions and inconsistent results
Supply chain transparency and traceability: limited visibility into PFAS use in inputs makes contamination tracking difficult, especially within multi-tier supplier networks
Regulatory fragmentation: frequent updates and the lack of harmonization across jurisdictions create significant operational complexity, demanding constant monitoring, proactive interpretation of thresholds and adjustment of compliance strategies

Innovations in PFAS replacement

Brands, mills, chemical companies and suppliers are implementing targeted strategies to accelerate the transition away from PFAS. Chemical companies are developing non-PFAS alternative chemistries, while brands are introducing phased elimination strategies to demonstrate their commitment to both consumers and regulators. Mills are strengthening chemical management systems and establishing stringent testing protocols to detect PFAS contamination before products reach the market. This groundwork has fostered deeper collaboration, with brands and mills partnering closely with chemical and material suppliers to deliver innovative solutions that achieve desired performance without fluorinated chemistry.

Beyond alternative chemicals, new breathable waterproof membrane polymers are being engineered to match the protective performance of outdoor apparel. Advances include enhanced microporous membranes with biodegradable polymer blends and monolithic membranes that provide complete barriers against water and wind while maintaining breathability. Together, these technologies promise durable waterproofing and comfort without PFAS, supporting long-term sustainability goals.

SGS solution

With SGS Softlines Total Solution, brands and mills can pivot away from PFAS by prioritizing the sourcing of effective alternatives while ensuring compliance across complex supply chains.

Key elements include:

Tailored testing protocols: combining total fluorine screening with targeted PFAS analysis to meet diverse global requirements
Root cause analysis (RCA): identifying contamination sources and improving chemical management practices for better compliance
Chemical management services: helping bands and suppliers identify, reduce and replace hazardous chemicals to ensure safer, more sustainable and globally compliant operations
bluesign® FINDER and bluesign® GUIDE: providing brands and suppliers with access to approved PFAS free chemicals and materials, along with detailed insights into applications, specifications, suppliers and non PFAS alternatives
Collaboration and training: engaging mills and suppliers to foster transparency, share best practices and accelerate the adoption of safer alternatives through e-training and supply chain initiatives

By integrating PFAS elimination into broader sustainability frameworks and utilizing our solutions, brands and suppliers can enhance consumer trust, ensure regulatory compliance and strengthen market competitiveness. The textile industry’s move to phase out PFAS is not a setback but an opportunity for innovation and improvement; by embracing new technologies, reinforcing chemical management practices and aligning with evolving regulations, textile and footwear companies can lead the way toward safer, more sustainable products.

IMPACT NOW for sustainability

PFAS testing is a core service within our IMPACT NOW for sustainability initiative, which unites solutions under four strategic pillars: climate, nature, ESG assurance and circularity. Under the nature pillar, we deliver practical solutions to detect and assess PFAS, enabling informed decision-making, strengthened regulatory compliance and enhanced environmental responsibility.

IMPACT NOW for sustainability embodies our commitment to a climate-neutral, nature-positive and pollution-free future.

Learn more about SGS’s Softlines services.