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Demystifying PFAS for business professionals while protecting your profitability
What is PFAS, why does it matter, and what can you do?
You may have noticed press headlines or been told about raising regulatory awareness about dangerous chemical substances without having proper time to look deeper into them due to your other business activities. This blog highlights a few key points every business leader should address.
What is PFAS?
In the high-stakes world of evolving regulation, risk mitigation is the name of the game. One small acronym, yet under the surface enormous as an iceberg, is approaching and fast: PFAS. Harmful, so-called “forever chemicals,” also often referred to as PFAS, impact us all and are present in most industries. These persistent chemicals pose a significant threat to public health, the environment, and your company’s bottom line.
Firstly, the acronym PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down easily, lingering in our environment and bodies long after their initial use. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health concerns, from cancer to reproductive issues. These persistent pollutants contaminate our soil, water, and air, wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
Firstly, the acronym PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down easily, lingering in our environment and bodies long after their initial use. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health concerns, from cancer to reproductive issues. These persistent pollutants contaminate our soil, water, and air, wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
Why does it matter?
In a business context, rising awareness of PFAS-related issues translates to reevaluating our products, the industries we support, and the suppliers we use. Additionally, the severe impact of these chemicals means policymakers are deepening existing regulations and constantly adding new changes until the problem is stabilized. This will subsequently drive imminent scrutiny from regulators, auditors, consumers as well as NGOs.
Executives know that in addition to fines and legal action in the USA and Europe, such exposure can potentially breach and cause irreparable damage to consumer and customer trust. PFAS mitigation starts with a procurement and supply chain question, where components and raw materials details are what matters. Prevalence of PFAS finds itself in the process of making the product (indirect) and PFAS in the product (direct), thus making the identification and then mitigation a complex value-chain-wide problem.
What Can You Do?
The first call to action here is to educate your boardroom and management that a non-trivial task for a Chemical/R&D department in your company needs to be equipped with the data and knowledge to summarize the impact and risks posed by PFAS. Step two: audit your supply chain to capture the data to expose where you can find PFAS impact directly or indirectly in your products or processes. Compare the product and supply chain impact vs. product profitability. Finally, make a resolution, whether phasing out PFAS materials or investing in safer alternatives, go beyond audit, and make your supply chain as clean as possible.
However, with tight financial situations worldwide with inflation, interest rates, and other financial burdens, it is not always easy to find the internal funds to thoroughly assess your supply chain to identify any potential sources of PFAS contamination. Everything from raw material processing to product packaging can be very time-consuming. It is natural to lean towards investing in robust risk management protocols and stringent controls to prevent PFAS contamination from limiting and mitigating future liabilities. Whether sourcing PFAS-free materials, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, or enhancing employee training programs, you can start to see the cost burden rising.
Of course, none of the above comes cheap. But consider the alternative: the costs of inaction far outweigh the upfront investment in risk mitigation. From regulatory fines and litigation expenses to reputational damage and lost market share, the financial consequences of PFAS contamination can be staggering. Therefore, the ultimate question is: can you do it smarter? In 100 days instead of 700 days? How does that compare against a custom consultancy invoice vs. a smarter approach? That is where companies such as virdium.ai come into the picture. Artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and self-adjusting software can increase data collection, identification, and supply chain action by at least 60%.
However, with tight financial situations worldwide with inflation, interest rates, and other financial burdens, it is not always easy to find the internal funds to thoroughly assess your supply chain to identify any potential sources of PFAS contamination. Everything from raw material processing to product packaging can be very time-consuming. It is natural to lean towards investing in robust risk management protocols and stringent controls to prevent PFAS contamination from limiting and mitigating future liabilities. Whether sourcing PFAS-free materials, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, or enhancing employee training programs, you can start to see the cost burden rising.
Of course, none of the above comes cheap. But consider the alternative: the costs of inaction far outweigh the upfront investment in risk mitigation. From regulatory fines and litigation expenses to reputational damage and lost market share, the financial consequences of PFAS contamination can be staggering. Therefore, the ultimate question is: can you do it smarter? In 100 days instead of 700 days? How does that compare against a custom consultancy invoice vs. a smarter approach? That is where companies such as virdium.ai come into the picture. Artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and self-adjusting software can increase data collection, identification, and supply chain action by at least 60%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, PFAS is urgent, and businesses that start now will be ahead of the curve and eventually demonstrate ROI from this mitigation effort in the form of differentiated products and a safe supply chain. It’s also a leadership opportunity, and aspiring business leaders have a pivotal role in mitigating the financial risks associated with PFAS contamination. By prioritizing proactive risk management, investing in remediation efforts, and fostering collaboration across stakeholders, you can safeguard your company’s bottom line while upholding your commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.
Remember: when it comes to PFAS, the cost of prevention is far less than the cost of remediation. So, don't wait until it's too late. Start mitigating your PFAS risk today.
Blog
Demystifying PFAS for business professionals while protecting your profitability
What is PFAS, why does it matter, and what can you do?
You may have noticed press headlines or been told about raising regulatory awareness about dangerous chemical substances without having proper time to look deeper into them due to your other business activities. This blog highlights a few key points every business leader should address.
What is PFAS?
In the high-stakes world of evolving regulation, risk mitigation is the name of the game. One small acronym, yet under the surface enormous as an iceberg, is approaching and fast: PFAS. Harmful, so-called “forever chemicals,” also often referred to as PFAS, impact us all and are present in most industries. These persistent chemicals pose a significant threat to public health, the environment, and your company’s bottom line.
Firstly, the acronym PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down easily, lingering in our environment and bodies long after their initial use. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health concerns, from cancer to reproductive issues. These persistent pollutants contaminate our soil, water, and air, wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
Firstly, the acronym PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down easily, lingering in our environment and bodies long after their initial use. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health concerns, from cancer to reproductive issues. These persistent pollutants contaminate our soil, water, and air, wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
Why does it matter?
In a business context, rising awareness of PFAS-related issues translates to reevaluating our products, the industries we support, and the suppliers we use. Additionally, the severe impact of these chemicals means policymakers are deepening existing regulations and constantly adding new changes until the problem is stabilized. This will subsequently drive imminent scrutiny from regulators, auditors, consumers as well as NGOs.
Executives know that in addition to fines and legal action in the USA and Europe, such exposure can potentially breach and cause irreparable damage to consumer and customer trust. PFAS mitigation starts with a procurement and supply chain question, where components and raw materials details are what matters. Prevalence of PFAS finds itself in the process of making the product (indirect) and PFAS in the product (direct), thus making the identification and then mitigation a complex value-chain-wide problem.
What Can You Do?
The first call to action here is to educate your boardroom and management that a non-trivial task for a Chemical/R&D department in your company needs to be equipped with the data and knowledge to summarize the impact and risks posed by PFAS. Step two: audit your supply chain to capture the data to expose where you can find PFAS impact directly or indirectly in your products or processes. Compare the product and supply chain impact vs. product profitability. Finally, make a resolution, whether phasing out PFAS materials or investing in safer alternatives, go beyond audit, and make your supply chain as clean as possible.
However, with tight financial situations worldwide with inflation, interest rates, and other financial burdens, it is not always easy to find the internal funds to thoroughly assess your supply chain to identify any potential sources of PFAS contamination. Everything from raw material processing to product packaging can be very time-consuming. It is natural to lean towards investing in robust risk management protocols and stringent controls to prevent PFAS contamination from limiting and mitigating future liabilities. Whether sourcing PFAS-free materials, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, or enhancing employee training programs, you can start to see the cost burden rising.
Of course, none of the above comes cheap. But consider the alternative: the costs of inaction far outweigh the upfront investment in risk mitigation. From regulatory fines and litigation expenses to reputational damage and lost market share, the financial consequences of PFAS contamination can be staggering. Therefore, the ultimate question is: can you do it smarter? In 100 days instead of 700 days? How does that compare against a custom consultancy invoice vs. a smarter approach? That is where companies such as virdium.ai come into the picture. Artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and self-adjusting software can increase data collection, identification, and supply chain action by at least 60%.
However, with tight financial situations worldwide with inflation, interest rates, and other financial burdens, it is not always easy to find the internal funds to thoroughly assess your supply chain to identify any potential sources of PFAS contamination. Everything from raw material processing to product packaging can be very time-consuming. It is natural to lean towards investing in robust risk management protocols and stringent controls to prevent PFAS contamination from limiting and mitigating future liabilities. Whether sourcing PFAS-free materials, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, or enhancing employee training programs, you can start to see the cost burden rising.
Of course, none of the above comes cheap. But consider the alternative: the costs of inaction far outweigh the upfront investment in risk mitigation. From regulatory fines and litigation expenses to reputational damage and lost market share, the financial consequences of PFAS contamination can be staggering. Therefore, the ultimate question is: can you do it smarter? In 100 days instead of 700 days? How does that compare against a custom consultancy invoice vs. a smarter approach? That is where companies such as virdium.ai come into the picture. Artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and self-adjusting software can increase data collection, identification, and supply chain action by at least 60%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, PFAS is urgent, and businesses that start now will be ahead of the curve and eventually demonstrate ROI from this mitigation effort in the form of differentiated products and a safe supply chain. It’s also a leadership opportunity, and aspiring business leaders have a pivotal role in mitigating the financial risks associated with PFAS contamination. By prioritizing proactive risk management, investing in remediation efforts, and fostering collaboration across stakeholders, you can safeguard your company’s bottom line while upholding your commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.
Remember: when it comes to PFAS, the cost of prevention is far less than the cost of remediation. So, don’t wait until it’s too late. Start mitigating your PFAS risk today.
Blog
Demystifying PFAS for business professionals while protecting your profitability
What is PFAS, why does it matter, and what can you do?
You may have noticed press headlines or been told about raising regulatory awareness about dangerous chemical substances without having proper time to look deeper into them due to your other business activities. This blog highlights a few key points every business leader should address.
What is PFAS?
In the high-stakes world of evolving regulation, risk mitigation is the name of the game. One small acronym, yet under the surface enormous as an iceberg, is approaching and fast: PFAS. Harmful, so-called “forever chemicals,” also often referred to as PFAS, impact us all and are present in most industries. These persistent chemicals pose a significant threat to public health, the environment, and your company’s bottom line.
Firstly, the acronym PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down easily, lingering in our environment and bodies long after their initial use. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health concerns, from cancer to reproductive issues. These persistent pollutants contaminate our soil, water, and air, wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
Firstly, the acronym PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS have been dubbed “forever chemicals” for a reason. They don’t break down easily, lingering in our environment and bodies long after their initial use. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health concerns, from cancer to reproductive issues. These persistent pollutants contaminate our soil, water, and air, wreaking havoc on ecosystems.
Why does it matter?
In a business context, rising awareness of PFAS-related issues translates to reevaluating our products, the industries we support, and the suppliers we use. Additionally, the severe impact of these chemicals means policymakers are deepening existing regulations and constantly adding new changes until the problem is stabilized. This will subsequently drive imminent scrutiny from regulators, auditors, consumers as well as NGOs.
Executives know that in addition to fines and legal action in the USA and Europe, such exposure can potentially breach and cause irreparable damage to consumer and customer trust. PFAS mitigation starts with a procurement and supply chain question, where components and raw materials details are what matters. Prevalence of PFAS finds itself in the process of making the product (indirect) and PFAS in the product (direct), thus making the identification and then mitigation a complex value-chain-wide problem.
What Can You Do?
The first call to action here is to educate your boardroom and management that a non-trivial task for a Chemical/R&D department in your company needs to be equipped with the data and knowledge to summarize the impact and risks posed by PFAS. Step two: audit your supply chain to capture the data to expose where you can find PFAS impact directly or indirectly in your products or processes. Compare the product and supply chain impact vs. product profitability. Finally, make a resolution, whether phasing out PFAS materials or investing in safer alternatives, go beyond audit, and make your supply chain as clean as possible.
However, with tight financial situations worldwide with inflation, interest rates, and other financial burdens, it is not always easy to find the internal funds to thoroughly assess your supply chain to identify any potential sources of PFAS contamination. Everything from raw material processing to product packaging can be very time-consuming. It is natural to lean towards investing in robust risk management protocols and stringent controls to prevent PFAS contamination from limiting and mitigating future liabilities. Whether sourcing PFAS-free materials, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, or enhancing employee training programs, you can start to see the cost burden rising.
Of course, none of the above comes cheap. But consider the alternative: the costs of inaction far outweigh the upfront investment in risk mitigation. From regulatory fines and litigation expenses to reputational damage and lost market share, the financial consequences of PFAS contamination can be staggering. Therefore, the ultimate question is: can you do it smarter? In 100 days instead of 700 days? How does that compare against a custom consultancy invoice vs. a smarter approach? That is where companies such as virdium.ai come into the picture. Artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and self-adjusting software can increase data collection, identification, and supply chain action by at least 60%.
However, with tight financial situations worldwide with inflation, interest rates, and other financial burdens, it is not always easy to find the internal funds to thoroughly assess your supply chain to identify any potential sources of PFAS contamination. Everything from raw material processing to product packaging can be very time-consuming. It is natural to lean towards investing in robust risk management protocols and stringent controls to prevent PFAS contamination from limiting and mitigating future liabilities. Whether sourcing PFAS-free materials, upgrading wastewater treatment facilities, or enhancing employee training programs, you can start to see the cost burden rising.
Of course, none of the above comes cheap. But consider the alternative: the costs of inaction far outweigh the upfront investment in risk mitigation. From regulatory fines and litigation expenses to reputational damage and lost market share, the financial consequences of PFAS contamination can be staggering. Therefore, the ultimate question is: can you do it smarter? In 100 days instead of 700 days? How does that compare against a custom consultancy invoice vs. a smarter approach? That is where companies such as virdium.ai come into the picture. Artificial intelligence, knowledge graphs, and self-adjusting software can increase data collection, identification, and supply chain action by at least 60%.
Conclusion
In conclusion, PFAS is urgent, and businesses that start now will be ahead of the curve and eventually demonstrate ROI from this mitigation effort in the form of differentiated products and a safe supply chain. It’s also a leadership opportunity, and aspiring business leaders have a pivotal role in mitigating the financial risks associated with PFAS contamination. By prioritizing proactive risk management, investing in remediation efforts, and fostering collaboration across stakeholders, you can safeguard your company’s bottom line while upholding your commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.