PFAS can refer to a broad category of thousands of compounds with distinct and widely varying properties and characteristics. They can be gases, liquids, or solids – and many different organizations define “PFAS” differently.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perflurooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are two types of fluorochemistries that were formerly made and used in many products. 3M announced in 2000 that we would voluntarily phase out of manufacturing of PFOA, PFOS and, related chemistries, and have done so worldwide.

PFAS have been used in everyday applications to promote durability, water resistance, heat resistance, grease and stain resistance, thermal stability, surfactant properties, and many other qualities.

PFAS have been used and are critical in the manufacture of many products that are important for modern life, including medical technologies, semiconductors, batteries, phones, automobiles and airplanes, firefighting, and military use.

Find additional details, including 3M products that contain intentionally added PFAS

3M announced in December 2022 it would take two further actions with respect to PFAS: exiting all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 and working to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. 3M completed its exit of PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025. 3M will continue to take actions to address PFAS manufactured prior to the exit. For example, the Company's water treatment assets at facilities that manufactured PFAS will continue to treat PFAS from historical manufacturing activities and remediate residual PFAS in waste streams from the Company's operations. 3M also will continue to work through the disposition of its assets and its interests in manufacturing facilities, which may include dismantling, cleaning and repurposing, and other dispositions of facilities or equipment. 3M remains in ongoing discussions with customers, government authorities, and other stakeholders and interested parties about customer agreements and the Company's interests in assets and facilities, which may be owned or leased from other parties that have interests and rights related to those facilities.

As also noted, 3M has been working to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio and has made substantial progress in eliminating such use in the Company's products. With respect to PFAS-containing products not manufactured by 3M in the Company's supply chains, the Company continues to evaluate the availability and feasibility of adopting and incorporating third-party products into its product portfolio that do not contain PFAS. Depending on the availability and feasibility of such third-party products not containing PFAS, the Company continues to evaluate circumstances in which the use of PFAS-containing products manufactured by third parties and used in certain applications in 3M’s product portfolios will continue beyond the end of 2025. Examples of PFAS-containing third-party products include lithium ion batteries, printed circuit boards, certain seals and gaskets, and other products widely used in commerce across a variety of industries, and in some cases required by regulatory or industry standards. In certain cases, sales and use of products manufactured before the end of 2025, and sales of products through customer transitions to new products, regulatory approvals, or customer re-certifications or re-qualifications of substitutes or replacements to eliminate the use of PFAS, were not completed by the end of 2025 and transitional efforts are ongoing.