France has taken a major step in the fight against PFAS by passing a new law banning their use in a range of consumer goods. The National Assembly has given its final approval to a bill that, starting January 1, 2026, will prohibit the production, import, export, and sale of PFAS-containing products across various categories, including textiles, waterproof clothing treatments, ski and snowboard waxes, paints, and cosmetics. As of 2030, the ban will extend to the entire textile sector, with the sole exception of protective gear for firefighters and law enforcement officers.

What Are PFAS and Why Are They Harmful?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of chemical compounds comprising between 5,000 and 10,000 substances. Renowned for their resistance to water, heat, and corrosion, PFAS are widely used in non-stick cookware, waterproof products, and electrical insulation. They are commonly found in technical garments, footwear, kitchen tools, eyeglass lenses, cardiac stents, and even some pharmaceuticals. According to the OECD, more than 4,700 types of PFAS are employed to impart water-repellent and stain-resistant properties to textiles.

However, it is precisely their chemical stability that makes PFAS hazardous to human health and the environment. They accumulate in ecosystems and living organisms, posing risks to fertility, immune function, metabolism, and increasing the likelihood of certain types of cancer.

Impact on the Textile and Fashion Sector

The textile and fashion industries are among the most affected by the new regulation, given their widespread use of PFAS to achieve water and stain repellency in fabrics and footwear. Transitioning to sustainable alternatives will require significant investment in research and development to identify innovative materials and alternative treatments such as bio-based polymers and plant-based waxes.

The impact will be particularly significant for outdoor, sportswear, and performance fashion brands, many of which will have to redesign entire product lines. Some companies, like Patagonia, have already begun the transition away from PFAS, but the challenge remains complex. Industry reactions reflect a general sense of caution.

Francesca Rulli, co-founder of Ympact and creator of the 4sustainability® framework, urges the fashion industry to take responsibility for eliminating substances that science has proven to be harmful. “Over the past few decades, the race for stain-proof and waterproof fabrics has led to an excessive reliance on these substances—often where not strictly necessary. We’ve become accustomed to not worrying about stains and expecting extreme water-repellent performance, even from everyday garments. Moreover, PFAS are also used as auxiliaries in dyeing, printing, and finishing processes to enhance performance. Considering the health and environmental risks, we must rethink both production processes and product specifications, especially where PFAS are used more to avoid product returns than to meet real functional needs. Educating consumers is not easy, but clear information could encourage many to support this transition.”

Tax Measures and Environmental Monitoring

In addition to the gradual bans, the new law introduces a tax on PFAS in consumer products to incentivize reduction ahead of regulatory deadlines. Implementation details are still being finalized.

Giancarlo Di Blasi, Research and Development Director at Brachi Testing Services, explains: “The real issue will be defining precise testing methods and concentration thresholds—a technical yet decisive aspect for the regulation’s effectiveness. It will be interesting to see whether France extends the restriction to short-chain PFAS, as already addressed at the EU level through Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 for PFHxA (C6), or adopts a California-style approach based on measuring total fluorine content in products. In that case, clear and ambitious limits would need to be set, bearing in mind that California has capped PFAS content at 100 mg/kg, to be halved by January 1, 2027.”

The law also mandates PFAS monitoring in drinking water, reinforcing EU legislation that, as of January 2026, will require all member states to track 20 pollutants from this group. France also plans to include TFA (trifluoroacetic acid)—considered the most widespread PFAS according to Greenpeace—among the substances monitored in water and the environment. The results of environmental inspections will be published annually and made publicly accessible online.

Toward an EU-Wide PFAS Ban?

The EU took its first steps on PFAS in 2009 by banning perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), classified as “potentially carcinogenic” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In 2020, the same fate befell perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), now officially recognized as carcinogenic, followed more recently by perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), widely used in firefighting foam.

A broader proposal is now on the table to extend restrictions to all PFAS. In February 2023, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden submitted a joint request to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to revise the REACH regulation accordingly. France has indicated its intention to support the initiative and, as evidenced by the newly passed law, is positioning itself as a regulatory front-runner.

A Challenge to Embrace

If more countries follow suit, the textile sector will need to accelerate its search for viable alternatives to remain competitive in an evolving regulatory landscape. Transforming investments in safer, more sustainable production processes into competitive advantages will be key.
This represents a radical shift for the entire sector, and the French law could be the catalyst: from material innovation to supply chain redesign, to balancing environmental sustainability with economic demands.

The clock is ticking toward 2026. Will the fashion industry rise to the challenge?
According to Rulli, phasing out PFAS requires a structured roadmap, akin to building a chemical management system across the supply chain.
“The first step,” she explains, “is risk assessment: analyzing the products and supply chains involved. Then, it’s essential to collect data from suppliers to identify possible PFAS exposure and validate findings through lab testing. The search for sustainable alternatives, from raw materials to treatments, must go hand in hand with close supplier collaboration to ensure an effective transition. Equally crucial are progress monitoring, internal training on PFAS risks, and consumer education. Finally, transparency: publishing verified data and achieving sustainability certifications reinforces a brand’s commitment. This process also drives innovation in the chemical industry, encouraging the development of safer formulations. The more companies adopt this strategy, the greater the momentum for research and innovation.”