REI to stop selling clothes, cookware with 'forever chemicals'

Authored by kuow.org and submitted by DrJGH

Sumner, Washington-based REI has announced it will stop selling items that contain "forever chemicals" used in waterproof clothing and camping cookware.

It's a pivotal move for the company and its more than 1,000 brand partners. PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are known as "forever chemicals" because they don't break down over time. They are present in most of the waterproof clothing and cookware sold in the U.S., including at REI stores. Just how much apparel contains the toxic substances? More than 70% of items sold as water-proof or stain-proof in the U.S. contain PFAS, according to a 2022 study by Toxic Free Future. That same non-profit lobbied REI for the past 18 months to kick the chemicals to the curb, soliciting letters from thousands of consumers and supporting rallies about PFAS outside REI locations. Mike Schade of Toxic Free Future says REI was an obvious choice for them to lobby.

"REI is one of the largest and most significant retailers in the outdoor industry," Shade says. "Also, as a company dedicated to sustainability and bringing people into the outdoors, we think that they're perfect to lead the outdoor industry away from these toxic forever chemicals.” The outdoor retail giant announced Tuesday it would make the change, and require its suppliers to do the same. The PFAS ban is outlined on the company's product standards document. PFAS have been linked to cancer and other health problems. REI aims to have all cookware and apparel sold in its stores free of PFAS by fall of 2024. The one exception is professional apparel for expeditions, with a 2026 goal date for those items. Schade says he hopes REI's decision will spur other companies to ban forever chemicals. His group is currently lobbying DICK's Sporting Goods.

REI has taken a stand against a toxin before. REI and Nalgene pulled tens of thousands of water bottles (and other kitchen items) from its shelves in 2008 because they contained the chemical BPA. But this latest ban is more involved, applying to all cookware and apparel, with special attention on the PFAS heavy category of waterproof clothing. Schade says REI is the right company to lead the outdoor industry on this issue. Finding replacement products, for one, is an area that requires innovation. "Some of the alternatives that are out there, like paraffin waxes, are safer from an environmental perspective, but others may also pose hazards," he says. "So, we really would like to see REI take the next step and ensure that the substances their suppliers switch to are truly safe for public health and the environment." REI media contacts said they were unable to make a company leader available for an interview.

Informal-Guest-2645 on February 25th, 2023 at 18:35 UTC »

As a geologist who works on PFAS remediation sites for the DoD, this is LOOOONG overdue. Because we're often analyzing environmental samples for PFAS chemicals in parts per trillion, we cannot wear anything with PFAS in it. The list of prohibited items is insanely long

I've resorted to wearing all natural fibers, mostly wool and waxed cotton, for field work. It performs great, is durable, and doesn't stink when it gets sweaty like polyester fibers. The only downside so far is the prices I've been paying for brands like Filson.

Added bonus: I know I'm not flushing thousands of microplastic fibers into the environment every time I do laundry. Would be nice if REI swore off poly fleece, too.

rocketwidget on February 25th, 2023 at 17:53 UTC »

According to Fjallraven, no zipper manufacturer in the world makes a waterproof zipper without PFAS right now. I hope this changes very soon.

https://foxtrail.fjallraven.com/articles/the-on-going-quest-for-100-pfc-free-eco-shell

Mitochandrea on February 25th, 2023 at 15:38 UTC »

This is huge, waterproofing is prevalent in outdoor gear (for obvious reasons) and a massive source of PFAs. Unfortunately this could be like playing whack-a-mole if the alternatives that are used to replace them are just less-studied chemicals of a similar type.

We need a complete reversal on how we approach chemical additives in the US- this “innocent until proven guilty” philosophy keeps biting us in the ass. Even an ounce of preliminary investigation before we carpet-bomb the entire country with the newest ‘wonder molecule’ would go a LONG way. The story of tris, bpa, and now pfas should be enough- I encourage everyone to contact their representatives about this issue because we already have the regulatory infrastructure in place to tackle this with a little expansion.