In several sectors, including the automotive industry, the process of replacing PFAS poses the following challenges:
Difficulty in verifying the PFAS content in all products and materials throughout the supply chain
Lack of alternative materials that meet both performance and safety standards
Burden of meeting stringent packaging and safety regulations for substitute materials
Significant time and cost required for testing alternative materials
Additionally, research by Fraunhofer IWM, titled "Replacement of Polymeric PFAS in Industrial Applications with Harsh Environments," indicates that PFAS is essential in sealing applications across various industries. Although efforts to develop alternatives are underway, materials capable of fully replicating the performance and characteristics of PFAS have not yet been secured.
Definition of PFAS Reporting Standards in IMDS
The IMDS Steering Committee is working to finalize the criteria for reporting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in IMDS.
The detailed guidelines have not yet been disclosed. Updates will be shared via newsletters as they become available.
Challenges of PFAS Substitution
A recent article titled "The scale of the problem of replacing ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS" highlighted the real-world issues faced by various industries when attempting to substitute PFAS.
In several sectors, including the automotive industry, the process of replacing PFAS poses the following challenges:
Difficulty in verifying the PFAS content in all products and materials throughout the supply chain
Lack of alternative materials that meet both performance and safety standards
Burden of meeting stringent packaging and safety regulations for substitute materials
Significant time and cost required for testing alternative materials
Additionally, research by Fraunhofer IWM, titled "Replacement of Polymeric PFAS in Industrial Applications with Harsh Environments," indicates that PFAS is essential in sealing applications across various industries. Although efforts to develop alternatives are underway, materials capable of fully replicating the performance and characteristics of PFAS have not yet been secured.