The newly released ChemScore 2025 rankings cast a sharp light on the state of PFAS and other persistent chemicals across the global chemical industry — and the picture is mixed.
Here’s what stands out:
- Only about one-third of the top 40 chemical producers assessed say they intend to phase out, reduce or avoid PFAS (or other persistent chemicals).
- Roughly half of those companies report mapping their PFAS use or production — a critical first step toward accountability.
- A small but growing number of industry leaders — including BASF and Ecolab — have publicly committed to exiting PFAS-based products, joining 3M in what may become a broader corporate shift.
PFAS — often called “forever chemicals” — are highly persistent, bioaccumulative, and linked to serious health and environmental risks. Allowing their continued use exposes communities, ecosystems, and investors to long-term risks, including contamination, regulatory backlash, and reputational damage.
But ChemScore 2025 also shows a realistic pathway forward. The differences between high-scoring and low-scoring companies demonstrate that better chemical management isn’t just possible — it’s already happening.
What this should mean for all of us:
- Companies must go beyond mapping and commit to concrete PFAS phase-outs and full transparency
- Investors and stakeholders should factor PFAS risk and chemical safety into due diligence and sustainability assessments
- Regulators, customers and civil society should keep pushing for safer alternatives and stronger accountability
For those of us concerned about environmental and human health and long-term sustainability, ChemScore 2025 is a timely reminder: PFAS remain a significant challenge, but change is no longer hypothetical. It’s underway.
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