3M has said it will stop making “forever chemicals” by the end of 2025, citing pressure from regulators and investors over the accumulation of the long-lived substances in the environment.
The US conglomerate on Tuesday said it would exit manufacturing of so-called Pfas and work to discontinue use of these chemicals across its product range in a move that would cost the company up to $2.3bn in pre-tax charges. Pfas chemicals are used in products including mobile phones and non-stick frying pans.
3M’s decision follows recent moves by the US Environmental Protection Agency to tighten rules regarding the use and disposal of Pfas chemicals, which would hold polluters more accountable for cleaning contaminated sites.
