Without perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), the key technologies of the transformation to climate neutrality cannot be realized and thus the energy and mobility transition cannot be implemented, warn the industry associations VDA, VDMA and ZVEI. They oppose the PFAS ban planned by the EU and call for a differentiated view of the group with over 10,000 substances.
Substances for which there is currently no substitute and those that pose no risk to humans or the environment should continue to be available. PFAS that pose a risk should be substituted, as is common practice.
PFAS that pose a risk should be substituted
For the industries represented by the associations - the automotive industry (VDA), electrical and digital industry (ZVEI) and mechanical and plant engineering (VDMA) - many PFAS substances are indispensable. They are used in seals, cables and relevant key technologies. Lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen technologies also rely on PFAS.
Many PFAS substances are indispensable
VDA President Hildegard Müller emphasizes: "Electromobility is a central part of the European Green Deal. In order to achieve the goal of climate-neutral mobility, the use of PFAS remains indispensable. The planned blanket ban on PFAS threatens to become a climate protection boomerang. Companies in the automotive industry take the responsible use of PFAS seriously and will continue to do so in the future."
According to VDMA President Karl Haeusgen, climate protection and the energy transition "would not be possible without technologies from the mechanical and plant engineering sector." A comprehensive PFAS ban would jeopardize many green technologies: "Components made from PFAS are indispensable for these products and also for their industrial manufacturing processes. At the same time, PFAS are installed deep inside machines and have no direct contact with the environment."
ZVEI President Dr. Gunther Kegel points out that the EU is promoting the development of a high-performance semiconductor ecosystem with the EU Chips Act and IPCEI Microelectronics. A blanket ban on PFAS would run counter to this goal. According to Kegel, PFAS must be "considered in a differentiated and risk-based manner" in order to resolve this conflict of objectives.
