ROCOL recently hosted a webinar on its PFAS Free Food Lube Range. PFAS is a chemical family consisting of at least 5,000 individual substances. They are sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because of their persistence in the environment. Although widely used, it is now known to be incredibly toxic and indestructible. As such, many companies are trying to move away from using it in its products.
PFAS is used across many industries, such as aerospace and defence, automotive, aviation, food-contact materials, textiles, and more. It is also in many household products that you may not think of, including non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, and some firefighting foams. In the UK, it is used in pesticides, providing a direct source of PFAS in crops, soil, and the wider environment.
However, it’s not that easy to turn off the plastic tap despite the fact that industry can no longer rely on a chemical compound that was discovered in the late 1930s.
What can we do about PFAS?
Across the world, the national authorities of Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden are proposing a restriction covering a wide range of PFAS uses, calling for policy and legislation change. This ban on PFAS would allow for a level playing field within the industry and encourage scientists to innovate, learn and reimagine new ways to replace PFAS.
Last year there was a ban on single-use plastic tableware in England. This is part of the government’s efforts to reduce avoidable plastic waste from everyday single-use items and proves that we are moving forward and away from lasting and potentially dangerous plastics.
More recently there has been suggestions that a universal restriction on the use of PFAS was coming into action of which lubricants were part. Although the industry is still unsure of what this could look like, ROCOL are stepping up and staying ahead of the curve.
PFAS free for food
ROCOL is an ISO 21469 certified UK manufacturer of industrial lubricants, cutting fluids and line marking systems. Founded in 1878 in Leeds, the company boasts 150 years in industry and have revealed its PFAS-free high-performance lubricants for food grade manufacturing. It is the first manufacturer of PFAS-free food grade lube with vegan approval as well as being kosher and halal.
Today, PFAS is not considered a hazard in the UK but accumulation over time is unknown. It can be harmful to the environment by contaminating drinking water, soil and food supply.
How are ROCOL making impact?
Sustainability is key to ROCOL; as well as working with its customer and partners. It has also listened to the needs of the food industry which wants to reduce its own environmental impact.
It has manufactured a PFAS-free formulation which can reduce up to 425kgs of chemicals in the environment per year. Seven of ROCOLs existing food range lube products have been updated to the PFAS-free formula and through testing, no effect to performance of the product has been seen.
Evolving regulations are being made more strict so have impacted on product development and on those that already exist. ROCOL is urging suppliers to also research and create new products that will go into PFAS-free products.
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