PFAS-coated clothes that are thrown away will often end up either incinerated or in landfill. Unless incinerated at very high temperatures (>1000oC), fluorinated polymers could release more harmful PFAS during burning. PFAS of environmental concern have also been found in landfill leachate. PFAS is found in treated waste water from industrial and domestic sources and has been found in both rivers and groundwater. Conventional drinking water processes will not remove PFAS.Small quantities of PFAS will be removed during wash and wear of products containing PFAS. This includes fluorinated polymers used on stain-resistant coatings, and non-polymers that remain on clothes after production (Lassen et al. 2015).Non-polymer PFAS can build up in blood protein of animals, and is not always removed quickly. This means that predators eating PFAS-contaminated food will have higher levels in their bloodstream, and concentrations can increase up the food chain. Studies suggest that build up of PFAS is similar to those of other Persistent Organic Pollutants such as DDT.PFAS are estimated to be settling in arctic regions at rates of tens to hundreds of kilograms per year (25-850kg per year), depending on the specific PFAS chemical in question. Certain PFAS are released as gases to the environment and are blown a long way by wind and air currents in the atmosphere,. These gas PFAS will over time degrade to more persistent chemicals like PFOS and PFOA. This may be one reason why PFAS of environmental concern have been found in remote regions such as the Arctic as well as near PFAS production sitesPFAS including PFOS and PFOA have been found in air samples around Europe. The chemicals are found in small quantities, but appear in almost all samples tested. PFAS enters the atmosphere both from factories and the air inside our homes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17554424 Non-polymer PFAS are used in the production of fluorinated polymers. The manufacture of stain-resistant finishes generally releases these PFASs into the environment, both by air and water emissions. They are very hard to remove during water treatment. Workers in textiles factories are some of the population most exposed to these potentially harmful chemicals.
COP26 - Fidra
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91% of countries that participated in The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2021 are impacted by industrial plastic pellet pollution, read the results

Building resilience

By removing the burden of chemical and plastic pollution on the environment, our projects build resilience to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis.

PFAS outdoor
PFAS
PFAS, the ‘Forever Chemicals’, are a group of industrial chemicals that are polluting our air, soil and water worldwide.
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PFAS, the ‘Forever Chemicals’, are a group of industrial chemicals that are polluting our air, soil and water worldwide.
Best Fishes
Best Fishes
Aquaculture has been seen as a solution to the growing need for protein to feed the human population.
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Aquaculture has been seen as a solution to the growing need for protein to feed the human population.
artifical pitche
Artificial Pitches
Artificial (3G) pitches are increasingly popular, but few are aware that the little black bits on their surface are microplastics!
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Artificial (3G) pitches are increasingly popular, but few are aware that the little black bits on their surface are microplastics!
Cotton Buds
Cotton Buds
Single-use plastic in our environment puts pressure on ecosystems under increasing strain from the climate and biodiversity crisis.
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Single-use plastic in our environment puts pressure on ecosystems under increasing strain from the climate and biodiversity crisis.

Preventing resource loss

A safe circular economy saves energy, resources, and prevents pollution. Our projects address the use of harmful chemicals, promote alternatives to single-use items, and stop losses from supply chains.

Nurdles
Nurdles
Nurdles are small plastic pellets used to make almost all our plastic products.
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Nurdles are small plastic pellets used to make almost all our plastic products.
Flame Retardants
Flame Retardants
What does a sofa, a seabird and a spatula have in common? They all contain harmful chemical retardants!
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What does a sofa, a seabird and a spatula have in common? They all contain harmful chemical retardants!
Packaging
Packaging
We urgently need to move towards a circular economy, reducing the consumption of raw materials and shrinking our carbon footprint.
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We urgently need to move towards a circular economy, reducing the consumption of raw materials and shrinking our carbon footprint.
Bisphenols
Bisphenols
Harmful chemicals, like bisphenols used in receipts, are contaminating recycled products.
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Harmful chemicals, like bisphenols used in receipts, are contaminating recycled products.