PFAS Sustainability Program

PPE is focused on ensuring our customers can continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to high performance sealing solutions for the most critical applications, whilst contributing towards making the whole fluoropolymers production cycle more environmentally sustainable.

Aligned with the Fluoropolymers Product Group (FPG), PPE is making a voluntary commitment to reduce non-polymeric PFAS emissions from fluoropolymer manufacturing.

This includes the adoption of alte ative manufacturing processes which no longer require the use of fluorosurfactants – marking a breakthrough in FKM offering.

Within this transition period, different timelines will apply for different materials. Get in touch with your key PPE contact for details on the development status of your required materials.

It is important that this transition to more sustainable materials doesn’t lead to a reduction in expected sealing performance.

The results from the PFAS sustainability program show a high degree of correlation between the original materials and the new NFS versions. Using the new V91JF against V91J as an example, from physical properties (pictured below) through to compression set, thermo-analytical data and RDG performance, the two materials compare well and all within the typical values range.

It means an equivalence in physical, thermal, and sealing properties, as well as equivalence in applicative testing and behaviour during processing (both on O-rings and more complex geometries).

Our transition to fluorosurfactant-free manufacturing processes will reduce levels of harmful pollutants released into the environment.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) includes around 10,000 chemical species with carbon-fluorine bonds. These chemicals are currently under review by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for their risks to human health and the environment. While most fluoropolymers – FKM, FEPM, FFKM – meet the OECD “Polymer of Low Conce ” criteria (non-toxic, not bioavailable, non-water soluble, and non-mobile molecules), they are still categorised as PFAS based on molecular structure.

A switch to FKM materials which do not require fluorosurfactants is a significant step for minimising harmful environmental emissions, and keeping any residual impact on human health to an absolute minimum.

Sustainability is at the heart of corporate strategies in industries and markets around the world. The ability of an organisation to make changes in the right areas, and drive change towards a more resilient and sustainable future, is paramount.

PPE continues to minimise the environmental impacts of its operations in many areas, including improvements in supply chain with the switch to fluorosurfactant-free material grades.

These new grades will reduce environmental pollutants associated with PFAS manufacturing, supporting the drive to net zero and underpinning our commitment to innovative, environmentally-friendly solutions and leadership in environmental responsibility.

PPE’s new NFS material solutions can support your operations in meeting its own corporate sustainability goals, through your identification and adoption of more environmentally considerate high performance sealing materials.