About this article
PFAS have been all over the news these past years. Across Europe, there is an ever-increasing range of recommendations and legislation regarding the safe use of PFAS in food packaging and cookware. Why we can't claim our products are PFAS-free, but can claim no PFAS is added? Read on to discover.
PFAS explained
PFAS is an abbreviation for thousands of chemical compounds manufactured since the 1940s and used in various consumer products. They are commonly referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because they don’t break down.
PFAS are used in food packaging and cookware because they make materials both fat and water-resistant. This makes it useful as non-stick coatings on pans and fibre-based disposable products, like paper, cardboard, bagasse or cellulose. Think strong bagasse bowls withstanding hot soup and paper straws that don’t get soggy.
Why the media and legislative attention around PFAS?
Given how PFASs linger in nature and the human body, and are linked to health concerns, their safety continues to be actively researched. Various sources link chemicals like PFAS and related PFOA to health risks.
As such, PFAS bans are nothing new in Europe. Some types of PFAS have been restricted for over a decade under the 2013 Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations.
PFAS restrictions in European legislation
REACH is an EU law, which continuously adopts new measures and takes its chemicals restrictions to new levels. For example, the use of certain PFAS subgroups was further restricted last September.
Some countries have implemented additional rules and are going a step further:
- Denmark: Using PFAS in cardboard and paper food contact material has been banned since July 2020.
- The Netherlands: Four types of PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS) have been banned from use in packaging and consumer articles since July 2022.
- In the absence of a total ban, countries like Germany, Norway and Sweden are also moving forward to restrict certain types of PFAS.
Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany submitted a joint proposal for a Europe-wide PFAS ban in January 2023 that would restrict their non-essential uses. The European Chemicals Agency is currently reviewing it.
PFAS restrictions under the PPWR: what changes from August 2026?
From 12 August 2026, food-contact packaging placed on the EU market must comply with defined PFAS concentration limits under the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). These rules complement existing REACH restrictions and introduce EU-wide thresholds for PFAS in packaging.
In addition, manufacturers and importers must maintain technical documentation demonstrating compliance and issue an EU Declaration of Conformity for packaging placed on the market.
Where national legislation introduces stricter PFAS requirements, those measures may continue to apply alongside the PPWR framework.
For a detailed explanation of what Article 5 of the PPWR requires and how it interacts with REACH and existing PFAS legislation, learn more in our dedicated overview of PFAS restrictions under the PPWR.
Verive’s promise: no PFAS added
All of Verive’s products comply with REACH restrictions. Yet, we’re committed to telling you the entire story because we value accuracy and transparency.
Nowadays you can find trace amounts of PFAS everywhere, even if you don’t add it to a product. For example, our industry uses trees to make cutlery and other disposables. These trees grow in soil that can contain small amounts of PFAS. While this may be non-detectable in a wooden spoon or paper plate with current technologies, it is still present without manufacturers adding it. The fact that PFASs are even detected in penguin feathers, shows its widespread presence.
Simply put, no one can guarantee a truly PFAS-free product. However, we promise to watch and adhere closely to applicable legislation and that, during manufacturing, no PFAS is added to our products.
Get in touch for support on a future-proof offering
With the REACH restrictions on PFASs becoming stricter and the PPWR being implemented by EU countries from August 2026, the time to assess your food packaging use is now. Need support in a future-proof range? Have a look at our catalogue, or get in touch today for personalized advice.
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