POPFREE - Promotion of PFAS-free alternatives
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Stockholm |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 325 843 |
| Project duration | September 2020 - October 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Challengedriven innovation - Phase 3 Implementation |
Important results from the project
POPFREE aims at promoting the use of PFAS-free alternatives by developing viable alternative solutions, raising awareness, and educating consumers and producers to choose PFAS-free products. PFAS-free DWR textile finishes and film-forming products, based on results from stage 2, have been optimised, scaled up, and evaluated in real environment towards commercialisation. Numerous communication activities have contributed to raised awareness within industry and supply chains, as well as consumers. POPFREE has also provided input to the upcoming broad PFAS restriction.
Expected long term effects
One PFAS-free water repellent finish from stage 2 has been commercialised and a next generation of fully bio-based products has been developed and tested at pilot scale. Two new film-forming products have been developed that are ready for market. Awareness within industry has been raised, as indicated by the increased number of members in the PFAS Movement and dialogues with companies regarding future collaboration. The project has moved towards the long-term vision of a systemic shift with viable alternatives, increased awareness and with a broader PFAS-restriction on its way.
Approach and implementation
Regular digital meetings and two longer face to face meetings with partners and reference group led to good collaboration. The POPFREE webpage, events and partners communications channels were important for communication. Due to Covid, less textile finishing trials in Asia were possible, which limited the extent to which the DWR products could be implemented in factories. The new products were instead tested at a pilot plant at HB. The alternative used in commercialised film-forming product in stage 2 did not function in the other products and development had to restart from scratch.