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Consumer goods giant 3M announced Tuesday that it will stop manufacturing and using a ubiquitous class of persistent, hazardous chemicals that can pose health risks to millions of Americans.
The Minnesota-based conglomerate, which makes widely used products like sticky notes, duct tape and safety masks, pledged to “cease all manufacturing” and “work to eliminate the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in its products.” According to a press release, the end of 2025. The compounds, commonly known as “Forever Chemicals,” do not break down naturally and have been found in the water supplies of communities across the country.
“With these two actions, 3M is committed to innovating for a world that is less dependent on PFAS,” the press release reads.
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Tuesday’s announcement comes as 3M faces an onslaught of lawsuits from states and individuals claiming that PFAS contamination is harmful to their health. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that long-term legal liabilities could cost the company $30 billion or more. 3M’s current annual net sales of manufactured PFAS are approximately $1.3 billion, according to the company.
Exposure to certain levels of PFAS chemicals has been linked to infertility, developmental problems or delays in children, and various types of cancer, among others. Despite these known human risks, the chemicals that help make consumer products water, stain and grease repellent continue to show up in products like cosmetics, dental floss, food packaging and clothing.
The Biden administration has taken steps to regulate PFAS in a variety of ways. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency said it would set enforceable drinking water limits for certain compounds.
Since then, the EPA has publicly warned that the chemicals pose a greater threat to human health than regulators previously thought. In August, the agency also proposed that two of the most common of these chemical compounds — PFOA and PFOS — be classified as hazardous.
EPO Administrator Michael Regan tweeted Tuesday afternoon that “protecting people from PFAS contamination is one of my top priorities,” and he vowed to “hold polluters accountable and protect public health.”
Major US manufacturers, including 3M, have long agreed to stop manufacturing PFOA and PFOS after their health risks became clear. 3M committed to phasing out the two chemicals in 2000, but continued to use other types of “forever chemicals,” of which there are thousands with different properties.
In Tuesday’s announcement, 3M argued that the class of chemicals remains “essential to modern life.” The latest decision “is based on an evolving external landscape,” the company said, citing regulatory action and pressure from consumers and investors.
“While PFAS can be safely manufactured and used, we also see an opportunity to provide leadership in a rapidly evolving external regulatory and business landscape to make the greatest impact on those we serve,” said Mike Roman, Chairman and CEO of 3M, in the press release.
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The company didn’t say exactly how it intends to achieve its goals, noting, “We have already reduced our use of PFAS over the past three years through continued research and development and will continue to develop new solutions for customers.”
John Rumpler, senior clean water director at Environment America, called 3M’s announcement “great news for clean water.”
“For the sake of our health and our environment, we hope that 3M will phase out PFAS production before 2025 and that other companies will follow suit,” he said in a statement.
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Others questioned the company’s motivation.
Erik Olson, senior strategic director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview that 3M’s announcement was almost certainly due in part to the “massive liability” the company faces.
“Virtually every American walks around with PFAS in their bodies,” Olson said. “The handwriting is on the wall that continuing to manufacture these chemicals is putting their shareholders and their company at risk.”
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Olson and other environmentalists hope that 3M’s decision to phase out PFAS chemicals will send a strong signal to other companies to “follow up and phase out these dangerous chemistry,” he said. But he is skeptical that it will happen quickly.
“There is a risk that others will see that there is a gap that needs to be filled,” he said.
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Dino Grandoni contributed to this report.