Why this Portal?

This Portal serves to facilitate the exchange of information on per and poly-fluorinated chemicals, focusing specifically on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In order to support a global transition towards safer alternatives, the Portal provides information on the following areas:

  1. What are PFASs?

  2. Risk reduction approaches

  3. Alternatives

  4. Production and emissions

  5. Information from countries

Information provided in this portal comes principally from the work done within the context of the OECD/UNEP Global PFC Group.

Latest publications on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

PFAS ALTERNATIVES

PFASs and alternatives in cosmetics: report on commercial availability and current uses

This report gathers information on alternatives to PFASs in cosmetic products, focusing on their commercial availability, current uses, market penetration, feasibility, effectiveness, and cost. PFASs provide a wide range of functions in cosmetic products, acting as hair and skin conditioning agents, emulsifiers, stabilisers, oil and water-resistant agents, lubricants, bulking agents and/or oil-resistant surfactants.

©OECD

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PFAS ALTERNATIVES

PFAS and Alternatives in Coatings, Paints and Varnishes (CPVs): Hazard Profile

This report complements the "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Alternatives in Coatings, Paints, and Varnishes (CPVs)" report (2022), summarising the commercial availability and current uses of PFASs and non-PFAS alternatives in CPVs. The 2023 report compiles hazard profiles for the identified substances including hazard classifications from authorities and industry and assessment outcomes on persistence, bioaccumulation and environmental and health hazards from authorities.

©OECD

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PFAS ALTERNATIVES

PFAS and Alternatives in Coatings, Paints and Varnishes (CPVs)

This report examines the commercial availability and current uses of PFASs and non-PFAS alternatives in coatings, paints and varnishes (CPVs). From the wide range of applications that comprise the CPV sector, three applications have been examined more closely: coatings for cables and wiring, the front and backsheets of solar panels and household and architectural paints. The report suggests a number of policy recommendations and areas that may be considered for further work.

©OECD

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FLUORINATED POLYMER

Annex: Synthesis Report on Understanding Side-Chain Fluorinated Polymers and Their Life Cycle

This document is an Annex to the report published by the OECD on Understanding Side-Chain Fluorinated Polymers and Their Life Cycle. The Annex is composed of 5 spreadsheets covering the following: Substances identities, Use information, PFAS-impurity studies, Degradation studies and SCFP release.

©OECD

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FLUORINATED POLYMER

Synthesis Report on Understanding Side-Chain Fluorinated Polymers and Their Life Cycle

This report provides an overview of existing scientific and technical information on side-chain fluorinated polymers (SCFPs), focusing on their identities and life cycle, and with a particular goal to map the existing landscape and highlight critical knowledge and data gaps.

©OECD

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PFAS ALTERNATIVES

PFAS and Alternatives in Food Packaging (Paper and Paperboard): Hazard Profile

This report comes as a supplement to the report on “PFAS and alternatives in food packaging (paper and paperboard): Commercial availability and current uses” that summarised the commercial availability and current uses of short-chain PFAS and non-fluorinated alternatives in paper and paperboard food packaging. The 2022 report aims to complement the 2020 report by compiling information on the hazard profile of the alternatives identified.

©OECD

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PFAS FACT CARDS

Fact Cards of Major Groups of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Check out OECD's 15 facts cards on major groups of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). You'll find information on (1) chemical identities, synthesis and inherent properties such as bioaccumulation and transformation, (2) historical and ongoing industrial practices and commercial uses of some major commercial products, (3) regulatory status, (4) examples of reported occurrences in the environment and humans, and (5) major knowledge gaps in terms of previous sections.

©OECD

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PFAS Alternatives

PFAS and Alternatives in Food Packaging (Paper and Paperboard)

This report addresses the commercial availability and current uses of alternatives (chemical and non-chemical) to PFAS in food packaging (paper and paperboard). PFAS are synthetic substances that are widely used in numerous technologies, industrial processes and everyday applications. This report also includes a number of policy recommendations aimed at government authorities, international organisations and industry.

©OECD

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OECD/UNEP Global PFC Group

This Portal is managed by the OECD/UNEP Global Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFC) Group.

The Group, established in 2012, brings together experts from OECD member and non-member countries in academia, governments, industry and NGOs as well as representatives from other international organisations.

This Group was established in response to the International Conference on Chemicals Management (Resolution II/5), calling upon intergovernmental organisations, governments and other stakeholders to:


consider the development, facilitation and promotion in an open, transparent and inclusive manner of national and international stewardship programmes and regulatory approaches to reduce emissions and the content of relevant perfluorinated chemicals of concern in products and to work toward global elimination, where appropriate and technically feasible”.

With the financial assistance of the European Union

The OECD Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) project has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.