Fluoropolymers

Fluoropolymers are advanced materials that provide unmatched durability, chemical resistance, and stability in extreme environments. Their unique set of properties makes them essential in many industries, from healthcare and renewable energy to transportation, advanced electronics and more.

Unlike many other materials, fluoropolymers do not degrade easily, ensuring long-lasting performance while reducing waste and environmental impact. They are the backbone of technologies that power modern life, ensuring safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Fluoropolymers have a unique set of properties and are:

Fluoropolymers can be defined as a type of PFAS. However, terms such as ‘PFAS’ or ‘fluorinated substances’ are very broad terms to group a family of over 4,700 chemicals, a definition based on their chemical structure and not their properties. Within such a large group, the chemicals have significantly varying properties and hazard profiles. As such, certain PFAS of concern such as PFOA and PFOS have been identified as a source of toxicological or environmental concern.

Although they can be defined as PFAS, fluoropolymers display different toxicological properties than certain other fluorochemicals in the PFAS family.

There are fluoroplastics and fluoroelastomers. Both subsets are based on the same monomers and are structurally similar. Their main difference is the higher elasticity of fluoroelastomers, achieved through chemical cross-linking.

Fluoropolymers may be fully or partially fluorinated, linear or branched. All fluoropolymers are high molecular weight polymers with unique physicochemical properties that are distinctly different when compared to other PFAS substances.

Fluoropolymers are a distinct class of per‐and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), high molecular weight polymers with fluorine attached to their carbon‐only backbone. They possess a unique combination of properties and unmatched functional performance, which are critical to the products and manufacturing processes they enable. For this reason, fluoropolymers are essential and irreplaceable in several uses and applications.

Fluoropolymers are chemically inert, non-bioavailable, and environmentally stable, distinguishing them from other PFAS substances. Experts consider that fluoropolymers display properties predictive of low hazard as demonstrated by data in science-based regulatory submissions and peer-reviewed literature.​

Fluoropolymers’ properties and data demonstrate their low hazard when compared against criteria used by a range of global regulatory scientists to assess the safety of polymers. Such criteria are a compilation of intrinsic physical and chemical properties that anticipate potential health and environmental impact.

Since the adoption of the manufacturing principles in 2021, all Fluoropolymer Product Group (FPG) member companies have taken concrete action to advance responsible and sustainable fluoropolymer production. 

In 2023, FPG members launched a dedicated Manufacturing Programme for European sites to address legitimate questions and concerns around emissions of non-polymeric PFAS residues from fluoropolymer manufacturing. This industry-led initiative sets out measurable emissions reduction targets and promotes the use of state-of-the-art technologies, while supporting transparency and safe handling across the value chain. 

The programme enables the industry to better understand and minimise environmental impacts, while ensuring fluoropolymers continue to support the EU’s green and digital transitions. 

Participating companies – AGC Chemicals Europe, Arkema, Chemours Netherlands B.V., Daikin Chemical Europe, Syensqo SA, and W. L. Gore & Associates – have successfully met the first ambitious reduction target at the end of 2024. 

The Programme’s success demonstrates that European fluoropolymer manufacturers are leading the way in sustainable production, ensuring that these critical materials continue to support strategic technologies while protecting the environment.  

Fluoropolymers can be safely and sustainably managed at end of life and make an important contribution to the European Union’s (EU) circular economy objectives.  

Prevention 

By providing enhanced durability, fluoropolymers play an essential in waste prevention, consistent with the EU waste hierarchy. They make products more durable, reducing the need for frequent replacement and the associated demand for primary materials, including critical raw materials. By maintaining the first-life use of a product, fluoropolymers play an important role in the circular economy and closing resource loops, given that refurbishment, remanufacture, reprocessing or recycling may require additional resources and/or degrade product functionality and/or material value¹.  

When it comes to the actual end of life, we know that in Europe approximately 84% of fluoropolymers end up in waste to energy incinerators today, while 13% are landfilled and 3% recycled². 

Recycling and Reuse 

FPG is committed to sustainable practices throughout the lifecycle of fluoropolymers. We recognise the importance of fluoropolymer recycling and have initiated research to build on existing reports that recycling of fluoropolymers is possible and should be increased3. For some fluoropolymers and applications, commercial recycling is already a reality. However, for some products and their waste-streams recycling may not be a viable end-of-life solution in practice. This is the case for example for, sealants that are used in chemicals manufacturing and thus may be exposed to substances of concern. We believe that enhancing both reuse and recycling capabilities will contribute significantly to minimising the environmental footprint of these materials.

Incineration 

Incineration is an effective means of disposal under permit conditions. This has been demonstrated by recent studies⁴ and real-world data which confirm that PFAS substances of potential concern will not be released⁵ FPG recognises the importance of ensuring that incineration is carried out in compliance with stringent environmental regulations to minimise emissions and protect air quality. Additionally, incineration is preferred over recycling as a disposal method for applications such as medical implants, sealings or industrial filters, that are in contact with substances that could pose a hazard to humans or the environment and that could stay in the recycling loop. 

Landfill 

While landfilling is considered a last resort in Europe, in some cases it may be necessary for managing some fluoropolymer waste. A body of data⁶ and published literature⁷ demonstrates that waste from fluoropolymers like PTFE waste is safe to landfill. Fluoropolymers like PTFE and PVDF are insoluble in water, do not partition, are neither adsorbed/desorbed into soil or sludge and do not partition to air. Data also supports the stability of fluoropolymers like PTFE and lack of biodegradation to other PFAS, such as perfluoroalkyl acids8. In 2023, FPG commissioned a study on the biodegradation of fluoropolymers to better understand their potential environmental fate and end-of-life management options. 

In conclusion, fluoropolymers can be safely and sustainably managed at end of life. The Fluoropolymers Product Group is dedicated to fostering comprehensive understanding of what happens at this phase of their lifecycle and to work on facilitating additional progress on further reducing the environment footprint of fluoropolymers. We are actively initiating research to further inform our strategies and actions and the contribution of fluoropolymers to the circular economy.