Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of industrial chemicals characterized by their strong carbon-fluorine bonds. PFAS persist indefinitely in the environment, and build up in people and animals over time. Well-studied PFAS have been linked to health harm including decreased fertility; developmental delays in children; prostate, testicular, and kidney cancer; hormone interference; and increased cholesterol levels.
PFAS in Buildings
A wide range of building products can contain PFAS. A visualization of the building products associated with PFAS use was recently created by the nonprofit Green Transition Denmark. In Living Future’s Declare program, PFAS are reported in lighting, solid surfaces, cable, metal coatings, wall panels, doorways, and shades. While PFAS serve desirable functions such as weatherproofing, lubrication, corrosion prevention, and stain resistance, their use harms health and the environment.
Living Future has added all known PFAS to our Red List of “worst in class” chemicals used in building products. Our restriction on PFAS as a class is aligned with the recommendations of the scientific community, and the actions of regulators, companies, certifications, and institutional procurement policies worldwide.
Phasing out PFAS: a case study from KEEN
Many sectors are rising to the challenge and working to identify and phase out PFAS. In the outdoor gear industry, the shoe manufacturer KEEN has led the way in eliminating PFAS from its products. Their recent short film tells ‘A Little Story about Forever.’
In their 2023 “Green Paper,” KEEN challenged their peers to join them in going PFAS-free. Their step-by-step guide to eliminating PFAS from their products includes: taking a detailed inventory of chemicals used; creating a strong chemical management policy and restricted substances list; requiring third-party testing against their RSL; creating a testing budget for verifying compliance; finding safer alternatives to PFAS; and working with suppliers whenever PFAS is found.
A new PFAS toolkit for the building industry
Recently, the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC) created the PFAS Best Practices Resource Hub, which lays out similar steps and a toolkit for building product manufacturers to identify PFAS in their supply chain, understand lab testing, and phase out PFAS from products.
The Living Future team is excited about this new resource for the building industry. We spoke with Cory White, the Technical Director at HPDC about the inspiration, process, and reception of the new PFAS Resource Hub.
1. What inspired you to create the PFAS Best Practices resource hub for Manufacturers?
At HPDC, we are guided by the needs and insights of our member community. Over the past few years, we’ve heard a growing concern from designers, architects, and project teams about the presence of PFAS in building products. Many of these teams were actively seeking ways to eliminate PFAS from their projects, but they lacked clear, actionable information.
This prompted our Research Assistant, Laura Lopera, to examine existing Health Product Declarations (HPDs) to determine how often PFAS were being reported and in what products was PFAS most common. To our surprise, they appeared in very few product disclosures—an anomaly considering the known prevalence of PFAS in building products.
After engaging with our Technical Sub Group and Technical Committee members, we identified two critical barriers: many manufacturers were unaware that PFAS were present in their products, and even when present, the chemicals often fell below current reporting thresholds of 1000 ppm or 100 ppm.
In response, we launched the PFAS Best Practices resource hub—a practical guide designed to help manufacturers proactively identify PFAS in their supply chains and understand best practices for disclosure. Our goal is to empower manufacturers to take meaningful steps toward safer, healthier materials.
2. What was the process you used to create the PFAS Best Practices resource hub?
The development of the PFAS Best Practices resource hub was a deeply collaborative effort. HPDC draws on the expertise of its Technical Sub Groups and Technical Committee—networks of professionals representing manufacturers, designers, and material health experts. These groups played an instrumental role in shaping the resource content and ensuring its technical rigor.
We also partnered with leading organizations in the field, including the Green Science Policy Institute, ChemFORWARD, and Green Seal, whose insights helped strengthen the scientific credibility and practical relevance of the hub.
Internally, HPDC staff conducted in-depth research to address specific knowledge gaps—for instance, identifying best practices for lab testing of PFAS and creating standardized tools such as an attestation template to support more accurate reporting.
The results are resources grounded in both science and real-world application—designed to meet manufacturers where they are and guide them through the complexity of PFAS identification and disclosure.
3. How has the PFAS Best Practices resource hub been received so far? What responses have you received?
Although formal promotion of the resource is still upcoming, early feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have expressed appreciation for the clarity and structure the resource brings to a complex issue. This issue is still evolving, so we welcome continued feedback as new best practices are discovered by manufacturers.
With the upcoming launch of HPD Open Standard v3.0—where PFAS guidance will be embedded—we anticipate wider engagement and adoption across the industry. As more manufacturers look to align with evolving regulations and design expectations, we believe this resource will serve as a vital roadmap for responsible material disclosure.
4. Any final thoughts you want to leave with our readers?
The transition to PFAS-free products is not simple. For manufacturers, identifying these substances, reformulating products, and revalidating performance requires significant investment of time and resources. It’s a challenging process—especially in the absence of consistent global regulations.
As advocates for human and environmental health, we must balance urgency with empathy. Change takes time, and progress often comes in stages. But change is happening. Every manufacturer that takes a step forward—whether through transparency, innovation, or substitution—brings us closer to a healthier built environment.
Let’s acknowledge the effort it takes and celebrate the wins along the way.
Resources
HPDC’s PFAS Best Practices Resource Hub
https://www.hpd-collaborative.org/pfas-best-practice/
The Danish NGO Green Transition Denmark worked with the Danish Technical University and a group of Danish architectural firms to review the ingredients of building materials. They found that PFAS shows up in a wide range of products – both in the products and as surface treatments.
https://rgo.dk/en/new-literature-study-pfas-is-hiding-in-many-places-in-construction
Green Science Policy published a whitepaper in 2021 highlighting where PFAS might be used in building materials.
https://greensciencepolicy.org/our-work/building-materials/pfas-in-building-materials
ChemForward maintains a chemical hazard data repository and certifies safer alternative materials across many industries. Their criteria for ‘safer’ restricts PFAS as a class.
Green Seal’s ecolabel prohibits PFAS in paints, coatings, adhesives, floor care products, and degreasers.
About Cory White
Technical Director, Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC)
Cory White leads as Technical Director at the Health Product Declaration Collaborative (HPDC), where he bridges innovation and practical implementation. He transforms cutting-edge research in product health, social equity, and material transparency into accessible standards and digital tools for manufacturers and project teams.
Based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Cory holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Public Health from University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire and a Master’s in Environmental, Health & Safety Management from University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Alongside his work at HPDC, he operates a consulting firm helping small businesses (under 250 employees) navigate OSHA and EPA compliance while establishing sustainability practices.
