Europe Tightens the Net on Forever Chemicals in Clothing
Surbhi ChadhaShare
From 10 October, an EU limit on PFHxA applies to clothing, accessories and footwear sold to the public
PFHxA belongs to the PFAS family, often called forever chemicals, and is used to make fabrics repel water and stains. Many brands moved to it after older PFAS were restricted.
Under the EU REACH rules, clothing, accessories and footwear can no longer contain 25 parts per billion or more of PFHxA and its salts, or 1,000 ppb of related substances. Stock already on the market before the deadline is exempt.
What changes for your wardrobe:
- Switching to short-chain PFAS no longer works as a way around the rules
- From October 2027, the same limits cover other textiles, leather and hides
- Denmark’s national PFAS ban on clothing has applied since July 2026
Water and stain repellent finishes leave chemicals behind long after the garment is gone. Tightly woven natural fibres, wax finishes and simple care have kept clothes useful for generations. Before you buy, ask what a fabric has been treated with.
Disclaimer: The images displayed on this website may include original, licensed stock, publicly available, or AI-generated content. The visuals are used for illustrative and presentation purposes only. We do not claim ownership unless explicitly stated.
