PFAS, Water, and the Next Wave of Environmental Disclosure
Sustainability & ESG / January 20, 2026
By Grayson Murphy, Sustainability Specialist
How Companies are Disclosing Their Monitoring and Management of PFAs
What are PFAS?
PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’, refers to a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals that are frequently used in consumer and industrial products around the world. According to the EPA’s chemical library, an estimated 15,000 synthetic chemical compounds are considered in the PFAS category. Since the 1950s, PFAS have been used in consumer packaging, non-stick cookware, clothing, fire retardant foam, stain resistant carpet as well as aerospace, automotive, industrial, and electronics applications. Due to the nature of the chemical bonds of these types of molecules, PFAS do not break down easily in the environment. This can often lead to contamination of soil, water, air, and food downstream in the consumer product chain.
Peer-reviewed scientific studies have found that exposure to certain PFAS can be associated with adverse health outcomes including reproductive defects, developmental delays in children, increased risk of some cancers, reduced immune system function, and more. In addition to potential human health effects, the persistence of PFAS in the environment can also cause physical harm to fish and wildlife and contribute to habitat loss for many species.
Why PFAS are Moving Into ESG Conversations
As ESG reporting evolves, it has expanded beyond regulation and into a savvy business tool used to assess materiality, risk, and liability while shoring up investor promise and overall business success. In addition to financial risk, operational exposure and reputation are on the line especially for publicly held companies. Recent multi-billion dollar lawsuits against US chemical companies DuPont, Corteva, and Chemors for PFAS-related claims highlight the legal, reputational, and financial risk that chemical contamination can have.
What Credible PFAS Disclosure Looks Like
In spite of the EPA’s 2025 regulatory roll-back of PFAS limits in drinking, credible PFAS disclosure remains a key signal of strong environmental risk management while also bringing direct value to investors, customers, and other key stakeholders.
At a minimum, credible PFAS disclosure includes:
ESG Report example: We have identified potential PFAS risks in a limited number of our manufacturing processes and materials, as well as possible legacy contamination in soil or groundwater at certain older facilities. We are also evaluating PFAS use and exposure risks within parts of our supply chain where these chemicals are more commonly used.
ESG Report example: We conduct targeted PFAS testing of wastewater effluent and on-site groundwater at facilities with identified risk using EPA-approved analytical methods. Testing frequency and scope are reviewed annually and adjusted based on evolving regulatory guidance and site-specific conditions.
ESG Report example: PFAS monitoring and risk evaluation remain an evolving area of science and regulation. While testing has been completed at high-risk locations, data gaps remain for certain legacy materials and supplier-provided inputs. We continue to refine our assessment as methodologies and regulatory expectations develop.
ESG Report example: Where PFAS-related risks have been identified, we are implementing a phased management approach that includes material substitution where feasible, enhanced wastewater treatment, supplier engagement to reduce PFAS inputs, and site-specific remediation planning where required.
ESG Report example: Oversight of PFAS-related risk is led by our Environmental Health & Safety and Sustainability teams, with quarterly updates provided to senior leadership. PFAS risk management is integrated into our broader environmental compliance and enterprise risk management processes.
The Future of PFAS in ESG Disclosures
PFAS sit at the intersection of environmental science, public health, and long-term business risk. As regulatory frameworks continue to shift and scientific understanding evolves, the absence of clear requirements does not eliminate responsibility or exposure. In many cases, it increases uncertainty.
For companies navigating ESG reporting today, PFAS disclosure represents foresight rather than reaction. Transparent, data-informed disclosure helps organizations understand their own risk, prepare for future policy changes, and build trust and value with investors, customers, and employees.
Ultimately, credible PFAS disclosure signals maturity in environmental risk management. Companies that engage openly with what they know and what remains uncertain position themselves to adapt as expectations for environmental transparency continue to rise.
If your team is assessing how PFAS fit into your broader environmental disclosures, let’s discuss your reporting needs. Book a complimentary discussion here.