PFAS update puts sealing products “under the spotlight”

Haute Savoie, France – The European Sealing Association (ESA) has given a cautious welcome to the European Chemical Agency’s publication of an updated PFAS Restriction under the EU’s REACH chemical safety regulations.

Noting that “sealing applications are now officially in focus,” ESA said the update (ERJ report) potentially reduces the threat of a wholesale ban on the use of fluoropolymers by its member companies.

The proposal, it said, “doesn't just look at blanket bans. Importantly for our industry, it also considers alternative options that could allow continued PFAS use where risks can be managed.”

For sealing manufacturers, this opens the door to a possible pathway for continued use of fluoropolymers, according to Sandy Van den Broeck, ESG director at the industry association.

“In other words,” he said, “ECHA is looking at scenarios where PFAS could remain in play for critical sealing applications — a development that could prove highly beneficial for our sector.

With ECHA's committees now reviewing the proposal ahead of a final decision by the European Commission, Van den Broeck believes the discussion will include “options that could support our industry's needs.

“For sealing manufacturers, it is clear: our industry is being considered — and the door is open for solutions that support continued PFAS use in critical sealing applications.”