The Road to Green 23: How the EU is tackling the challenge of ‘forever chemicals’

Are PFAS the most worrying pollutants of our time, and can we rid ourselves of them?

Invisible but ubiquitous, PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in everything from non-stick pans to smartphones. While these chemicals are essential to modern industry, their “eternal” nature means that they accumulate in our environment and in our bodies, posing significant health risks. 

In the latest episode of ‘The Road to Green’, Euronews explores how Europe is transitioning towards a PFAS-free future. 

The journey begins in Italy’s Veneto region, the scene of one of Europe’s most serious pollution scandals, where industrial waste contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 residents for decades. 

Euronews speaks to activists from ‘Mamme No PFAS’ who are fighting for their children’s health, as well as visiting local water companies investing millions in advanced filtration. 

The focus then shifts to Sweden, where the EU’s “universal restriction” strategy is taking shape: a historic proposal under the REACH regulation that aims to ban the manufacture, use and sale of approximately 10,000 PFAS. 

At Stockholm University, scientists are designing safer alternatives for sensitive sectors such as electronics and medical devices. By collaborating with NGOs such as ChemSec and cutting-edge brands such as IKEA and Marshall, the EU is demonstrating that industrial innovation can thrive without toxic persistence. 

This change is a fundamental step towards the EU’s ambition of achieving zero pollution, ensuring a cleaner legacy for future generations.

Background

PFAS pollution significantly damages human health and threatens our water security, agricultural security and long-term economic stability. That is why citizens are demanding action as the scale of the crisis becomes clear. 

Under new rulescoming into force in January this year, EU Member States must monitor PFAS levels in drinking water in a harmonised manner to ensure compliance with the new EU limit values under therecast Drinking Water Directive. 

Last year’sWater Resilience Strategywill also address the issue of PFAS in our drinking water, alongside the Chemical Industry Action Plan, which focuses on waste streams. 

The firstEUSoil Monitoring Act, which entered into force in December 2025, provides additional PFAS monitoring requirements for our soils, and Member States continue to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, which will further remove PFAS from the global supply chain. 

Further information: European Commission.