Thread by @barathmukhi

In Feb 2023, #GujaratFluorochemicals management stated their products are PFAS free

So what are PFAS and why are these important to the co?

PFAS stands for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, a big long word that scientists use to talk about a group of chemicals that can be found in some things like food packaging, non-stick pans, and some types of clothing.

Why are PFAS chemicals infamous?

Ok so PFAS chemicals are harmful to mortals like all of us. What are governments and organizations doing to fix this?

The European proposal, if it stands unchanged, would spell the eventual end for common fluoropolymers like PTFE and PVDF. “They are absolutely in the scope of the current European definition of PFAS", says Amber Wellman, director of sustainability for Chemours.

But regulators shouldn’t be targeting the fluoropolymers themselves, she says. “They’re inert. They’re high-molecular-weight polymers. They’re not mobile. They’re not bioavailable. They don’t bioaccumulate.”

Which are the companies that are walking away from the business because they are unable to make PFAS free substances?

3M is one. Others may follow suit.

Can we live without PFAS free fluoropolymers?

Looks difficult.

Fluoropolymer makers have been able to find nonfluorinated surfactants to produce polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF, but a substitute for the more heavily fluorinated polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE has proved more elusive

One of the applications where PTFE is used in non stick cookware, popularly known as Teflon coating

While I don't fully trust ChatGPT, it helps my lazy bones and gives me the info I quickly need.

Ever since fluoropolymers were introduced, in the middle of the 20th century, making many of them has required using fluorosurfactants. These processing aids are critical to the emulsion polymerization process, in which a polymer is built in water from fluorinated monomers.

What's in it for us?

In Gujarat Fluorochemicals' Feb 2023 concall, they said they have been able to make PFAS free chemicals that are used in some of the critical applications mentioned above.

In May 2023, they said 80% of all products they had been shipping were PFAS free.

What is important about 3M's exit?

Hang on. Why did 3M exit the business?

Because they were litigated to the tune of $40 Billion for producing PFAS chemicals.

3M's total fluoropolymer 2022 revenues were $1.3 Billion.

GFL TTM revenues for all their division put together - $0.7 Billion. And 3M is the only player that has decided to exit the business.

This shows us the scale of opportunity GFL could be staring at.

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