PFAS are a group of widely used chemicals that the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has linked to cancer, low birth weight, high blood pressure, and immune system changes. They persist indefinitely in the environment and human body, contributing to their nickname, “forever chemicals”. New regulations and growing consumer concern are creating serious reputational, legal, and financial risks for companies that continue to use PFAS or fail to address contamination. 

As You Sow engages leading retailers and CPG companies to eliminate PFAS from products that come in direct contact with people, including food packaging, menstrual products, clothing and uniforms, contact lenses, and personal care items. Through shareholder advocacy, we compel companies to disclose testing results, strengthen supply chain oversight, and adopt time bound phase out plans. Our efforts have led to corporate commitments to remove PFAS from food packaging and to publish product safety data across the consumer goods sectors. 

Through direct engagement with corporations, we drive the transition to safer material use and transparent practices. Our goal is to end harmful PFAS use, prevent new contamination, and ensure that companies take responsibility for protecting communities and public health.