Unseen, Unregulated, and rising: PFAS Risks for Modern Businesses
Unseen, Unregulated, and rising: PFAS Risks for Modern Businesses
For many businesses, environmental risk has long been considered something that happens elsewhere, an issue for regulators, industrial giants or legacy chemical plants. But a new class of pollutants is challenging that assumption and reshaping the risk landscape at unprecedented speed. PFAS, often labelled ‘forever chemical’. They are emerging as one of the most significant environmental and liability exposures of our time, and the danger lies not only in their persistence but in how silently and widely they have spread.
Most organisations today still underestimate how close PFAS risk sits to their operations. Whether through raw materials, packaging, supply chains, past land use, or even staff uniforms, PFAS can be embedded in everyday business activity. Awareness is no longer optional; it is the starting point for resilience.
What Are PFAS and Why Do They Matter
PFAS, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are a large group of synthetic chemicals created in the mid-20th century to make products heat-resistant, waterproof and durable. Their properties made them attractive to countless industries, from textiles and electronics to aviation and food production. Their resistance to breaking down causes these chemicals to persist in soil, water, wildlife, and human bodies for decades, if not centuries.
PFAS are now found everywhere. They appear in no-stick cookware, waterproof jackets, food packaging, cosmetics, carpets, cleaning products, and firefighting foams. They have been detected in UK drinking water, in rivers across Europe, and in remote polar regions thousands of miles away from their original source. In the UK alone, as many as 21,000 old landfill sites may be leaching PFAS into the surrounding environments.
This persistence would be concerning enough on its own, but growing research shows that PFAS exposure is linked to serious health impacts. Studies associate ongoing exposure with elevated cholesterol, liver damage, hormonal disruption, reproductive issues, reduced vaccine response in children and higher risks of cancers. To date, there is no universally accepted safe exposure threshold. The real issue is that PFAS enter the body through multiple pathways: food, water, inhalation, and skin contact. Once absorbed, they accumulate.
Who is a risk and why it is a business issue.
The question for the organisations is no longer whether PFAS are relevant, but how and where they intersect with business operations. Unlike many legacy pollutants, PFAS risk does not confine itself to heavy industry. Businesses that manufacture, distribute, import, or simply use products containing PFAS may be implicated in exposure. Workers in textiles, carpets, chemicals, and firefighting are historically at the highest risk, but exposure concerns now extend to hospitality, education, facilities, management, transportation, logistics, retail, and food sectors.
Liability implications are growing rapidly. Employer liability arises when workers are exposed during production, cleaning, or handling. Public liability can result from leaks or spills that contaminate local ecosystems, affecting neighbouring residents and property values. Product liability concerns are rising as PFAS are identified in consumer goods such as stain-resistant fabrics and school uniforms. The legal landscape is expanding quickly, with multimillion-dollar settlements already seen in the US and Europe and rising scrutiny across the UK.
Regulation is also tightening around the world. The EU is moving towards broad restrictions and strict limits across water, packaging, and firefighting foams. The UK has taken early steps to prohibit PFOA in firefighting foams and issued notices to water companies, and further action is widely expected. In the US, state-level rules and EPA mandates are driving rapid compliance changes. For businesses, this creates a patchwork of obligations that can be complex to navigate, and the pace of change is accelerating.
Where Standard Polices Fall Short
Traditional insurance policies were never designed for a world of ‘forever chemicals’. Many general liability and environmental policies exclude PFAS specifically or rely on definitions of pollution that do not yet account for the unique properties and long-term implications of these substances. As regulatory standards evolve and litigation grows, gaps in standard coverage become increasingly visible. Businesses relying solely on off-the-shelf insurance may find themselves exposed to costly claims, compliance failures, clean-up liabilities, or reputational damage. This has prompted a significant shift across the insurance industry, as insurers reassess how they approach PFAS exposures and how to offer protection that aligns with the evolving regulatory and litigation landscape.
Across the market, insurers are beginning to tighten exclusions, refine definitions, and develop more sophisticated underwriting models that better account for PFAS-related liabilities. The industry is investing in deeper technical expertise, drawing on environmental scientists and risk engineers to help policyholders understand where PFAS may intersect with their operations, products, or legacy sites. As regulators increase scrutiny and case law develops, insurers are actively reviewing their positions to balance market capacity with responsible risk management.
What Organisations Should Do Now
The road ahead for PFAS is shaped by expanding awareness, tightening regulation, and increasing legal action. Businesses cannot afford to wait until contamination is found or a claim is made before taking steps to protect themselves. The organisations that adapt most effectively are those that begin by assessing their exposure early: examining raw materials and supply chains, reviewing historical land use, evaluating water and waste systems, and ensuring internal safety protocols reflect the emerging scientific understanding of PFAS.
As businesses take these steps, Sona Insurance is adapting its role too. The insurance industry is increasingly encouraging proactive risk assessments, transparent disclosures, and early engagement on PFAS-related issues. Sona Insurance is now offering guidance on risk mitigation practices, supporting policyholders with environmental audits, and requesting more detailed information about PFAS use within operations and supply chains. This shift reflects a broader trend: insurance is moving from a reactive safety net to a more collaborative risk partner, emphasising prevention as much as protection.
PFAS will not disappear from the regulatory or liability landscape any time soon. It is an evolving challenge that will continue to influence underwriting appetites, legal expectations, and operational risk for years to come. Acting now, by identifying exposure, strengthening controls, and engaging with insurers early, remains the most effective way for organisations to stay ahead of change.
If your organisation has not yet assessed how PFAS may affect its operations, workforce, or products, now is the time to begin. Early action not only protects people and the environment but also positions businesses to secure appropriate insurance protection in a market that is rapidly redefining how it responds to emerging environmental risks. If your organisation is ready to understand its exposure, enhance its resilience, and secure expert insurance protection, Sona Insurance is here to support you. Speak with our specialist team today to begin your PFAS risk assessment and ensure your business is protected for the future.
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