California lawmakers voted to ban a group of chemicals known as PFAS, which are often called “forever chemicals,” in cookware. The move has pulled in celebrity chefs on one side and environmentalists, including actor Mark Ruffalo, on the other.
The proposal, Senate Bill 682, would prohibit PFAS in cookware, cleaning products, dental floss, ski wax, food packaging and certain children’s products. Lawmakers approved the bill in a 41-19 vote, late on Friday, with 20 assembly members not voting. The bill quickly passed amendments in the Senate and is now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature.
It’s the latest move to limit PFAS, which are a class of thousands of chemicals that have been around for more than 70 years and are widely used in a variety of consumer, commercial and industrial products due to their ability to withstand heat and repel water and stains. They are called “forever chemicals” because they are extremely persistent in the environment and can accumulate in humans and animals.
As demand for the final product is reduced manufacturing should slow down and the rate at which byproducts are created should be reduced in proportion.
A similar thing is happening in other industries too, if you try to buy a new gore-tex raincoat today you will struggle, since the company behind the brand have discontinued their pfas based fabric and are trying to release a more environmentally sound replacement.
Not that either of these is a complete solution in isolation, but hopefully they will have a positive effect.