France has passed a new law that will ban forever chemicals in cosmetics and similar products. The European Union is also considering a similar ban.

Forever chemicals refer to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs): a family of over 10,000 highly persistent synthetic chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked to numerous adverse health impacts, such as the promotion of certain cancers, disruption of the immune system and reduced fertility.

When the ban was first proposed in 2024 by French Green MP Nicolas Thierry it also included cookware, but this was excluded following intense industry lobbying and despite alternatives being readily available. The new law is however still a crucial step towards protecting French citizens and nature from these harmful chemicals. It will also take steps towards making polluters pay to clean up the contamination they are causing, by introducing a fee on companies emitting PFAS into the environment.

The European Union is also considering a ban on PFAS in consumer products. Potential legislation would seek to prohibit the use of forever chemicals in cosmetics and personal care but exemptions would be put in place for other industries. Denmark has already imposed a ban on forever chemicals in cosmetics.

An update will be given on PFAS in personal care products at the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit. The next edition will be hosted in New York on 5-6th June. More details are on the website