The discussion surrounding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), driven by the persistence and bioaccumulation of these “forever chemicals” in ecosystems and human bodies, has reached a critical juncture.
With some 5,000 PFAS compounds utilised in industries from food packaging to semiconductors, concerns over their environmental and health risks—linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, and developmental delays—have led to calls for action.
However, solving this crisis requires more than a single strategy. A dual approach is emerging: regulating PFAS usage to stem the flow of new chemicals into the environment and advancing treatment technologies to destroy or remove existing contamination.
These approaches form a comprehensive framework to mitigate the PFAS problem. IDTechEx explores this framework through its PFAS research portfolio, including reports on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 2025: Emerging Applications, Alternatives, Regulations, and PFAS Treatment 2025-2035: Technologies, Regulations, Players, Applications.
Regulating usage: Closing the tap on PFAS pollution
Global Regulatory Momentum
Regulatory bodies worldwide are considering shifting from reactive measures to proactive PFAS production and use bans. The European Union’s proposed universal PFAS restriction is the most aggressive regulatory effort to date.
Introduced in 2023 and still under revision by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as of 2025, this sweeping regulation aims to ban nearly all PFAS except for “essential uses” in critical sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy.
While industries such as fuel cells (reliant on PFAS-based proton exchange membranes) and batteries (using PFAS-containing binders) may secure exemptions, most applications—including food packaging and textiles—may face strict phase-out timelines.
In the U.S., federal action lags, but state-level initiatives are filling the gap. Maine and Minnesota have adopted EU-style universal PFAS bans, while California targets PFAS in consumer goods like cosmetics and food containers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set unprecedented drinking water limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS), signalling a tightening regulatory landscape. Even the new EPA administrator under the Trump administration has indicated a willingness to keep pursuing action to address contamination.
Industry Shifts and Alternatives
Regulations may force industries to pivot toward PFAS-free alternatives. For example:
Sustainable Food Packaging: With the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) banning PFAS-coated materials, companies are adopting biowax, nanocellulose, or non-PFAS-containing polymer-based coatings for grease resistance.
Hydrogen Economy: Fluoropolymer membranes in fuel cells could face substitution by hydrocarbon alternatives, though cost, performance, and scalability remain major hurdles.
Data Centers: Non-PFAS coolants and dielectric fluids are emerging for immersion cooling systems as key fluorochemical manufacturers like 3M exit the market.
Our report Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) 2025 highlights that while alternatives exist, their commercial viability hinges on overcoming technical limitations and cost barriers. For businesses, preparing for both “best-case” (targeted bans) and “worst-case” (universal bans) scenarios are critical to navigating this uncertain terrain.
Cleaning up the past – scale of the challenge
PFAS contamination is ubiquitous, with an estimated 57,000 contamination sites in the U.S. alone. The chemical diversity of PFAS complicates treatment:
Long-chain PFAS (e.g., PFOA/PFOS): Legacy contaminants are regulated globally but are persistent in soil and water.
Short-chain PFAS (e.g., PFBA/PFBS): Mobile replacements for long-chain PFAS, are now under scrutiny for similar risks.
Ultra-short-chain PFAS (e.g., TFA): Byproducts of degradation, highly mobile and largely unregulated.
Traditional treatment methods like granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange resins (IER) effectively capture long-chain PFAS but struggle with shorter variants. Moreover, these methods risk recontamination if transferred to landfills.
Emerging destruction technologies
The spotlight is on permanent destruction technologies that break carbon-fluorine bonds—the strongest in organic chemistry. Key innovations emerging include (but are not limited to):
Electrochemical Oxidation (EO): Uses reactive species to degrade PFAS in water.
Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO): Heats contaminated water beyond 374°C to mineralize PFAS into harmless byproducts.
Plasma Treatment: Leverages thermal or non-thermal plasma to cleave PFAS molecules.
Hydrothermal Alkaline Treatment (HALT): Combines heat and catalysts like sodium hydroxide for efficient breakdown.
However, challenges persist. Incineration, the incumbent method for PFAS destruction, faces scepticism due to incomplete combustion risks. This presents an opportunity for emerging destruction technologies, but while they are promising, they also lack data from commercial deployments that would be important to reassure potential adopters.
Market growth and regulatory synergy
We forecast that the global PFAS treatment market for municipal drinking water will reach US$2.3 billion by 2035, driven by stringent regulations like the EPA’s 4 ppt limit. Regulations mandate cleanup and incentivize innovation on a PFAS cleanup problem that may cost US$2 trillion in Europe alone.
Conclusion: A synergistic path forward
PFAS contamination issues cannot be solved by regulation or treatment alone. Prevention through bans and alternatives reduces future contamination, while treatment technologies address legacy pollution. This two-pronged approach is already reshaping industries:
High-tech companies invest in R&D to replace PFAS without compromising performance.
Water utilities and environmental firms are piloting advanced destruction systems to meet regulatory standards.
Yet, gaps remain. Ultra-short-chain PFAS lack regulatory oversight, and alternatives for critical applications like fuel cells are nascent. Collaboration between policymakers, industries, and researchers will be essential to balance environmental health with technological progress.
As undercovered in our reports, the roadmap to a cleaner future is complex but achievable -provided both prongs of the strategy advance in lockstep.
For more information, including downloadable sample pages, see IDTechEx.com/PFAS and IDTechEx.com/PFASTreat. For the full portfolio of market research into PFAS regulations, alternatives, and treatment technologies, see IDTechEx.com/Research/AM.
