POPFREE stage two – promotion of PFAS-free alternatives
POPFREE is a two year innovation project aiming to find and promote alternatives free from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to customers in collaboration with industry. Transdisciplinary collaboration will contribute to marketable PFAS-free products, competent buyers, decreased health and environmental impact and competitive industry.
Aim and goal
POPFREE aims at contributing to the promotion of marketable PFAS free products by developing competitive alternatives with market pull and reduced environmental footprint.
Challenge
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that have been used for decades in a wide range of applications such as firefighting foams, textile impregnation, food packaging, ski wax, cosmetics and various coatings due to their versatile characteristics. However PFAS substances have a strong environmental impact as well as a negative influence on health, and increased levels of PFAS can now be detected in 144 municipal water sources in Sweden. Despite this, regulations are currently limited to perfluorooctane-based compounds, largely due to lack of competitive sustainable alternatives.
Solution
In this project, a transdisciplinary consortium will perform functional testing of fluorine-free alternatives. Information on their health and environmental impact, including diffuse emission, will be gathered and a life cycle perspective will be taken to identify the most promising alternatives. Communication channels, such as websites or social media, will be established to inform manufacturers and consumers and aid them in making educated choices.
Effect
By pushing the development of alternative solutions, this project will facilitate the implementation of new policies and regulations. New technical solutions will contribute to decreased environmental impact, competent buyers along the value chain, and competitive Swedish industrial partners.
Summary
Project name
POPFREE stage two
Status
Completed
RISE role in project
Coordinator
Project start
Duration
2017-11-14 – 2020-01-30
Total budget
22 774 687 sek
Partner
29 actors are involved in the project including producers of chemicals and alternative solutions, manufacturers of products for business-to-business, manufacturers of consumer products, NGOs to represent consumers and academic partners.
Funders
Project website
Coordinators
Supports the UN sustainability goals
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action