New Regulations to Ban PFAS in Cleaning and Finishing Products

Contributed by Phil Carrizales, I.C.E-T, A.C.T., Director of Hygiene and Facility Solutions, ACME Paper & Supply Co.

We’ve all heard the term “forever chemical”, but many are surprised to learn that these chemicals, known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are in almost everything. PFAS are in our water systems, food, clothing, cookware, and cleaning solutions where they do not break down. Shown to pose significant health risks even at low levels, new regulations will be going into effect in several states mandating that PFAS be removed in products ranging from tampons to floor finishers. 

Regulators are particularly focused on floor finishers because the process of stripping a floor allows PFAS to enter the wastewater, where they remain indefinitely. At ACME, we are closely monitoring these regulations and expect more states to implement bans on PFASs in the coming year.  

The Race to Eliminate PFAS from Floor Finishing Products is On

PFAS allows floor finishers to spread evenly during application, preventing bubbling or ripples. Manufacturers must quickly figure out how to develop PFAS-free floor finishing solutions or reformulate existing products to meet the new regulations. These changes require significant time and investment in research, development, chemical reformulation, and product testing.

Recent studies on this forever chemical have found that it poses a risk not only to occupants of buildings where products containing PFAS are used but also to the facility workers applying cleaning solutions. A study conducted in 2022 by a researcher in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC-Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, found that floor waxing workers have increased exposure to high levels of PFAS present in dust and airborne particles during floor stripping and waxing. 

What the Future Holds

Green Seal, which has traditionally held some of the highest safety standards in the cleaning product industry, announced last year that PFASs will be prohibited in any Green Seal-certified products including paints, floor care products, degreasers, and the like. This covers approximately 12,000 chemicals that Green Seal-certified products will prohibit. Taking it a step further, Green Seal will also prohibit PFAS in all its certified cleaning products in a phased-in implementation. 

Currently, SC Johnson is leading the way as the only manufacturer with a floor finisher that does not contain PFAS. This product has been proven to be highly effective and resilient and ACME has been recommending and stocking the product for years.  We’re finding that other manufacturers are struggling to catch up, especially as state-wide regulations continue to ban these forever chemicals.

At ACME, our Green Initiative has been in place for many years. We are working closely with our customers to adapt to the new regulations and take advantage of green-certified, cost-efficient, and effective products. SC Johnson's PFAS-free floor finisher has been a part of our green product arsenal for many years. Product demonstrations allow facility operators to see how well a floor finisher withstands high-traffic areas in schools, hospitals, or class-A office buildings. We encourage facility managers and building owners to start testing these certified solutions now to get ahead of the upcoming policy changes.
 
In the end, the elimination of PFAS in floor finishers and all green-certified products will help ensure that facilities have access to safer and more effective cleaning solutions. That’s good news for owners, managers, occupants, and facility workers alike.  

Phil Carrizales is the Director of the Hygiene and Facilities Solutions Division at Acme Paper and Supply Company, one of the nation's largest suppliers of sanitation solutions, disposable food service packaging, restaurant equipment and supply, retail and industrial packaging, and custom-designed packaging. Phil has over 20 years of experience in account management for major cleaning suppliers and is ISSA certified. Phil can be reached directly at pcarrizales@acmepaper.com.