How we’re helping a client go PFAS-free by 2030

23 February 2026

A few years ago, one of our customers, a leading high-tech machine manufacturer, came to us with an ambitious goal: eliminate all PFAS from their supply chain by 2030.

My first reaction? This is going to be incredibly complex. PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often called “forever chemicals” – are everywhere in industrial manufacturing. In seals, coatings, lubricants, cable insulation, electronic components. They’re used precisely because they’re so durable. That’s also why they’re a problem.

My second reaction? This is exactly the kind of challenge we should take on.

Why PFAS should be on your radar now

If you work in manufacturing and haven’t heard about the EU’s proposed PFAS restriction yet, you will soon. In January 2023, five European countries submitted a proposal to ECHA (European Chemicals Agency), to restrict over 10,000 PFAS substances across all industries. The updated proposal, published in August 2025, introduces three possible restriction scenarios, from a full ban with limited exemptions to a risk-based approach for specific sectors like electronics and machinery.

ECHA’s scientific committees aim to deliver their final opinions in this year, with the European Commission expected to make regulatory decisions shortly after. France has already banned PFAS in cosmetics and textiles. The direction is clear: PFAS restrictions are coming, and they will affect manufacturing supply chains across Europe.

The question isn’t whether your supply chain will be affected. It’s when it will, and whether you’ll be ready.

What we actually did

Rather than waiting for legislation to force the issue, we started working with our customer proactively. The approach was straightforward in concept, enormous in execution.

We began auditing thousands of components in their tail supply; the low-value electrical and mechanical parts that don’t get strategic attention but are everywhere in a machine. For each part, we checked: does it contain PFAS? Can we get a certificate from the supplier? Is there a PFAS-free alternative that meets the same performance specifications?

This sounds simple. It isn’t. Many suppliers don’t know whether their products contain PFAS. Certificates are inconsistent or incomplete. Alternative materials need testing. And for some applications, viable substitutes don’t exist yet.

But that’s exactly the point. By starting now, we’re building the knowledge and supplier relationships that will matter when the regulation hits. Every component we validate today is one less problem in 2028.

Three things we’ve learned so far

1. Compliance lives in the details nobody wants to own. PFAS isn’t a procurement problem or a quality problem or an engineering problem. It’s all three, which means it’s often nobody’s problem. The companies that get ahead are the ones that assign clear ownership. For our customer, that’s us.

2. Transparency is a competitive asset. When the customer asks “Does this component meet all environmental standards?”, we should be able to answer with a few clicks. The EU’s upcoming Digital Product Passport will make full traceability the norm. Companies that invest in transparency now won’t just comply; they’ll attract business because they can provide data that others can’t.

3. Early movers don’t just avoid risk – they create opportunity. When our customer reaches their 2030 goal, they’ll be able to market their machines as PFAS-free. That’s not just a compliance checkbox. That’s a message that resonates with every procurement team in Europe that’s under pressure to meet ESG criteria.

The bigger picture

At MAG45, compliance has never been an afterthought. We’ve been doing the unglamorous work of managing certificates, validating materials, and keeping our clients audit-ready for 75 years. What’s changed is that this work has become a commercial differentiator. The companies that treat compliance as a strategic lever – not a cost center – are the ones winning new business.

Think of it like the weather. You can grumble about the rain, or you can carry an umbrella, build a better roof, maybe even harvest the water. The companies that thrive will be those that anticipate change, adapt quickly, and use compliance challenges to differentiate themselves.

My challenge to you

Turn the next sustainability mandate into your next market opportunity. Start by asking: do we know which components in our supply chain contain PFAS? If the answer is no, or “probably not”, that’s where the work begins.

Moving beyond compliance isn’t just good citizenship. It’s good business. And like when you start harvesting rain weather, at some point, you might even find yourself dancing in the rain.