Proactive approaches towards the phase-out of the PFAS family: The PFAS Movement status and a multi-national automotive enterprise towards hazardous chemicals phase-out.
(2024) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM02 20241The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
- Abstract
- The pervasive issue of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) motivated the research for this master's thesis. During a previous professional experience at a chemical consultancy, insights were gained into the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulatory requirements, which informed the foundation of this study. PFAS are recognized for being highly toxic to both humans and the environment, and the impending REACH PFAS Restriction aims to phase out this entire family of chemicals within the EU. However, the final decision on the complete phase-out of PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," is still pending. This regulatory uncertainty and the active PFAS Movement pose significant... (More)
- The pervasive issue of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) motivated the research for this master's thesis. During a previous professional experience at a chemical consultancy, insights were gained into the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulatory requirements, which informed the foundation of this study. PFAS are recognized for being highly toxic to both humans and the environment, and the impending REACH PFAS Restriction aims to phase out this entire family of chemicals within the EU. However, the final decision on the complete phase-out of PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," is still pending. This regulatory uncertainty and the active PFAS Movement pose significant challenges and opportunities for industries, particularly multinational enterprises operating across different regulatory landscapes.
This thesis focuses on the adaptation strategies of a multinational automotive enterprise to the upcoming ECHA's PFAS Restriction. It explores their current knowledge, approaches, and awareness of hazardous chemicals within their global supply chain. Additionally, the study examines the status and feasibility of the PFAS Movement in the absence of fully enforced regulatory measures.
Methodologically, this case study involved analyzing the REACH PFAS Restriction status and conducting interviews with stakeholders across different management levels within the enterprise. It also involved key observations from the Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2024. The framework for analysis was derived from literature reviews and insights from the Helsinki Chemicals Forum. Furthermore, the United Nations Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) provided a comprehensive basis for addressing the research questions, focusing on strategic objectives related to legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, capacities among key actors, partnerships and collaboration, and integration into decision-making processes.
The findings reveal that the PFAS Movement depends heavily on legal frameworks, specifically REACH, for effective chemical phase-out. Multinational enterprises need help aligning their global operations with EU regulations, particularly the lack of PFAS reporting and management practices that vary per region. The study underscores the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration, internal enterprise capacities, and proactive measures for successful PFAS management and phase-out. Practical policy and industry implications include integrating decision-making processes and transparency in hazardous chemical management. Recommendations for future research highlight the necessity of exploring the financial feasibility of PFAS alternatives, the identification of PFAS in supply chains, and strategies to avoid regrettable substitutions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9171566
- author
- Sicairos Fernandez, Guillermo LU
- supervisor
-
- Håkan Rodhe LU
- organization
- course
- IMEM02 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- PFAS, Hazardous Chemical Restriction, REACH, Multinational Automotive Industry, Global Supply Chain Management
- publication/series
- IIIEE Master Thesis
- report number
- 2024.30
- ISSN
- 1401-9191
- language
- English
- id
- 9171566
- date added to LUP
- 2024-08-14 08:35:39
- date last changed
- 2024-08-14 08:35:39
@misc{9171566,
abstract = {{The pervasive issue of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) motivated the research for this master's thesis. During a previous professional experience at a chemical consultancy, insights were gained into the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulatory requirements, which informed the foundation of this study. PFAS are recognized for being highly toxic to both humans and the environment, and the impending REACH PFAS Restriction aims to phase out this entire family of chemicals within the EU. However, the final decision on the complete phase-out of PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," is still pending. This regulatory uncertainty and the active PFAS Movement pose significant challenges and opportunities for industries, particularly multinational enterprises operating across different regulatory landscapes.
This thesis focuses on the adaptation strategies of a multinational automotive enterprise to the upcoming ECHA's PFAS Restriction. It explores their current knowledge, approaches, and awareness of hazardous chemicals within their global supply chain. Additionally, the study examines the status and feasibility of the PFAS Movement in the absence of fully enforced regulatory measures.
Methodologically, this case study involved analyzing the REACH PFAS Restriction status and conducting interviews with stakeholders across different management levels within the enterprise. It also involved key observations from the Helsinki Chemicals Forum 2024. The framework for analysis was derived from literature reviews and insights from the Helsinki Chemicals Forum. Furthermore, the United Nations Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) provided a comprehensive basis for addressing the research questions, focusing on strategic objectives related to legal frameworks, institutional mechanisms, capacities among key actors, partnerships and collaboration, and integration into decision-making processes.
The findings reveal that the PFAS Movement depends heavily on legal frameworks, specifically REACH, for effective chemical phase-out. Multinational enterprises need help aligning their global operations with EU regulations, particularly the lack of PFAS reporting and management practices that vary per region. The study underscores the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration, internal enterprise capacities, and proactive measures for successful PFAS management and phase-out. Practical policy and industry implications include integrating decision-making processes and transparency in hazardous chemical management. Recommendations for future research highlight the necessity of exploring the financial feasibility of PFAS alternatives, the identification of PFAS in supply chains, and strategies to avoid regrettable substitutions.}},
author = {{Sicairos Fernandez, Guillermo}},
issn = {{1401-9191}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
title = {{Proactive approaches towards the phase-out of the PFAS family: The PFAS Movement status and a multi-national automotive enterprise towards hazardous chemicals phase-out.}},
year = {{2024}},
}