As of January 1, 2026, several provisions relating to PFAS have come into force in France: the implementation of a drinking water standard as well as the ban on the «manufacture, importation, exportation, and placing on the market of certain products» containing PFAS (cosmetics, textiles, waterproofing agents, etc.). While not unprecedented, these developments help bring the issue of PFAS back to the forefront of the health and industrial debate.
What does the term PFAS refer to, and what chemical properties explain their massive use?
PFAS are a large family of chemical compounds developed starting in the 1950s. This term encompasses more than 4,700 substances sharing a common structure: a chain of carbon atoms that are fully or partially fluorinated. These bonds react very little chemically, which gives these substances exceptional resistance to chemical, thermal, and biological degradation, hence their nickname «forever chemicals.».
As for the functional group, it imparts specific properties such as water and oil repellency, which provide exceptional resistance to water and grease.
What health and environmental risks are associated with PFAS?
Some of these substances, in particular PFOA and PFOS, are now associated with several health risks. Epidemiological studies link them to immune system disruptions (such as a lower vaccine response), metabolic disorders (increased cholesterol, liver damage), developmental effects (low birth weight, neurodevelopmental disorders) as well as an increased risk of certain cancers. PFOA has been classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). While certain groups of PFAS are clearly identified as toxic, others are still being studied: the toxicity of polymeric forms appears, at this stage, to be lower than that of monomeric compounds.
What measures and initiatives are being implemented by public authorities?
In France, government authorities are gradually taking up this issue. While the regulatory framework for drinking water is now in place, other aspects still need to be clarified. Law No. 2025-188 of February 27, 2025, establishes a cross-cutting regulatory framework by enshrining the “polluter pays” principle and setting a national trajectory for reducing industrial PFAS discharges, specified by decree (a reduction of 70 % by 2028 compared to 2023). However, the implementation of these objectives for industrial aqueous discharges, municipal wastewater, as well as for soil and sludge, still largely depends on implementing regulations currently being drafted.
In a context where the regulatory framework is tightening and societal awareness is accelerating:
• What challenges for the manufacturers and operators involved?
• What is the level of maturity of technical decontamination solutions?
• What is the development potential for decontamination players in a still-emerging market?
• What strategic positioning should be adopted in response to this new situation?
This publication aims to provide some initial insight into these questions. Download the perspective of the experts from KAIRN Strategy Consulting, a partner of The Institute by Eurogroup Company.
