Kundeninformation
July 31, 2024
PFAS
Efficient lubrication to reduce friction, wear, and energy intake it the core goal at setral® as special lubricant manufacturer. With more than 50 years of experience in the development, production, and sales, for a quite long time it is no longer just about finding the best technical solution for our customers, but rather about designing our portfolio to be sustainable, environmentally friendly and in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Find following:
What is PFAS?
PFAS stands for all chemical substances with at least one fully fluorinated methyl (-CF3) or methylene (-CF2) carbon atom in the absence of H, Cl, Br, I. This includes over 10 000 substances. For lubricants, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), a solid lubricant, and the base oil PFPE (perfluoropolyether) fall under the PFAS definition. While PTFE might be familiar to consumers from the non-sticking pan coating, PFPE is less well known, but is also present in cosmetics.
These two substances are used in lubricant formulations primarily because of their unique performance collective. This is almost always the case when classic lubricants fail because of harsh operating conditions or are indispensable for safety applications. Typical features of the requirements, which usually even apply in combination:
There has been a restriction proposal for PFAS since 2023 because they are persistent, i.e. long-lasting and difficult to break down. Therefore, these compounds can be detected in our environment and in our human bodies over a long period of time. They may cause damage there. Long-term consequences of PFAS exposure are unclear. In the preliminary restriction dossier, the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) proposes the restriction of the production, sale and use of all PFAS substances.
Further steps in the planned PFAS restriction
5 600 comments were received by the ECHA by the end of the consultation period on September 25th, 2023, on the proposed restriction dossier, published on February 7th, 2023. These include position papers from raw material suppliers, interest groups from numerous industries such as the automotive industry, as well as the VSI (German Association of the Lubricant Industry), in which setral® actively participated, and also our own setral® comment. These comments have the key messages in common in making it clear that there is no alternative, that the impact on our known lifestyle would be enormous, and that significant scientific and economic advances would be undone.
Given the high number of comments, the numerous applications, and the unprecedentedly large and inhomogeneous group of substances in a restriction dossier, processing is challenging for the ECHA, making it highly unlikely that the usual schedule will be adhered to.
The EU has not yet made a final decision on restrictions. It is currently expected to come into force between 2027 and 2028. Even after that, transition periods still apply.
The latest information is that the SEAC Committee will start the final consultation for the European area in the first half of March 2026. This consultation has a very short participation timeframe of 60 days and refers to the social impact of the primary restriction proposal. The published questionnaires from the SEAC consultation are available on the ECHA homepage. There you will also find the exact date for the start of the consultation.
Internationally recognized suppliers of PFAS such as PFPE and PTFE have shared information in webinars, e.g. in April 2025, that PFAS regulation is being considered globally. However, among these, the European way is the harshest. The global megatrend is to solely regulate low-molecular PFAS. The future actions of the United Nations regarding the restriction of PFAS are still uncertain. The state of Maine had recently announced plans to completely ban all PFAS by 2032. However, they changed their minds and decided to ban the use of PFAS in consumer products only and granting time-unlimited exemptions for e.g. medical devices, aerospace, motor vehicles, watercrafts, semiconductors and non-consumer electronics. The state of Minnesota has also changed its mind about banning all PFAS, deciding instead to only prohibit their use in consumer products. Setral® is sharing its collected information, but please note that we do not provide legal advice relating to PFAS.
PFAS-free options
Until recently, around 50 setral® products contained PFAS as an ingredient. Since the end of 2023 there have been a few less. Various formulations are now available without PFAS – without changing their typical characteristics.
For many years, setral® has been researching for suitable alternatives. The need for the use of PFAS in new developments is being evaluated even more closely. There is no alternative to the unique performance collective of PFPE and PTFE, especially when it comes to the suitability for high and low temperatures as well as durability. Exactly for this reason these special lubricants are always used when harsh conditions are unavoidable or safety-relevant components are lubricated. Many of these setral® lubricants are ideally suited for the food industry with H1 formulations and production according to the hygiene standard ISO 21 469.
Setral® offers PFAS-free alternatives in its portfolio. Currently the amount is constantly increasing. In case of questions about a changeover, our experts will be happy to support you with “Competence in Lubricants”.
Your setral® product management team
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