What Are Forever Chemicals and Why Does This Matter to You?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals used since the 1940s in products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, and floor care products due to their durability and resistance to heat, water, and oil.

However, PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and human body, leading to widespread contamination and potential health risks such as liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, and cancer. Since it is believed that over 98% of the U.S. population have detectable PFAS levels in their body, the EPA and other regulatory agencies are working to limit or ban their use, including a forthcoming EPA ban on PFAS in certain applications.

At Barentz, we support customers in navigating these regulations by offering solutions with no intentionally added PFAS for floor care formulations. Our portfolio not only meets current standards but also anticipates future requirements, ensuring you stay ahead of future regulations. We provide comprehensive support in:

  • Ingredient selection
  • Formulation optimization
  • Regulatory compliance

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As the industry shifts towards safer, sustainable products, staying informed and proactive is crucial for compliance and meeting consumer expectations.

The Barentz HI&I Team is ready to assist with the challenge of transitioning to formulations with no intentionally added PFAS. We offer comprehensive support throughout the process. Our team of experts can assist with selecting the right ingredients, optimizing formulations, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

PFAS Replacement Solutions.

ECO-SHIELD™ NF100

PFAS Alternative

Dispersion for Floor Finish Applications

ECO-SHIELD™ NF100 is a low viscosity wetting and leveling agent that acts as an interfacial tension modifier, reducing surface tension.  When added to a coating formulation ECO-SHIELD™ NF100 enables the coating to more uniformly wet-out a variety of surfaces -including low-surface- energy substrates, surfaces with defects and dirty surfaces. ECO-SHIELD™ NF100 has been pre-approved for EPA’s Safer Choice program. It is free of APEO’s, phosphates and is low VOC. This additive enables development of sustainable formulations without compromising performance.

Flexiwet™ CZ-1040K

Non-Fluorinated Surfactant for CASE and HI&I Cleaners

Non-Fluorinated Surfactant Mixture

Flexiwet™ CZ-1040K is a non-fluorinated surfactant mixture which provides powerful wetting & leveling performance as well as anti-blocking for use in paints & coatings, adhesives, mold release, and HI&I cleaning formulations.  This product delivers smoother, defect-free coatings and improved open time.  Flexiwet™ CZ-1040K is a neutralized version of Flexiwet™ CZ-1000. No intentionally added PFAS.

Flexiwet™ CZ-1000

Non-Fluorinated Surfactant for CASE and HI&I Cleaners

Non-Fluorinated Surfactant Mixture

Flexiwet™ CZ-1000 provides powerful wetting & leveling performance as well as anti-blocking for use in paints & coatings, adhesives, mold release, and HI&I cleaning formulations.  This product delivers smoother, defect-free coatings and improved open time.  Flexiwet™ CZ-1000 can be post-added to the final formulation or incorporated during the letdown phase of production. No intentionally added PFAS.

Flexiwet™ CZ-1100

Non-Fluorinated Surfactant for CASE and HI&I Cleaners

Non-Fluorinated Surfactant Mixture

Flexiwet™ CZ-1100 is a non-fluorinated surfactant mixture for use in coatings and HI&I cleaning formulations. The excellent wetting & leveling properties provide smoother, defect-free coatings, including floor care applications.  This product is self-dispersible in water and soluble in IPA and ethanol. No intentionally added PFAS.

Regulations on PFAS

In response to growing concerns, several countries and regions have implemented regulations to control the use of PFAS:

United States:

  • EPA is setting health advisory levels and enforceable limits for PFAS in drinking water.
  • States like California, Maine, Minnesota and Washington restrict PFAS use in specific products, including floor care.

 European Union:

  • ECHA lists PFAS as substances of very high concern under REACH, with a comprehensive ban on non-essential uses being considered.

 International Efforts:

  • Countries like Canada and Australia are regulating PFAS through environmental monitoring and limiting industrial emissions.

Sources of PFAS

(Applications and Product Categories)

Sources of PFAS in the world