A recent report on the use of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," outlines just how far the outdoor industry still needs to go in ridding products that touch our skin of toxic chemicals. Only a handful of main brands, including Keen, Teva and Patagonia received passing grades from the Natural Resources Defense Council. You can read the report here. To demonstrate its commitment Keen actually created instructions and shared the process they used to eliminate them so others can follow suit.
There are many chemicals used in the products we wear that cause all kinds of nasty diseases, but the hub bub around PFAS is exactly because they are "forever chemicals." Most lab-made substances break down over time, but PFAS are particularly horrible because they never break down. PFAS are generally used in waterproofing everything from jackets to shoes and bags, but they contribute to a variety of human health problems including cancer and birth defects.
I applaud Keen here for figuring out how to create the same end result, water repellency, without the crazy chemicals, and then offering to share this intel with the rest of their competitors. It goes to show that the other folks who claim that they don't know of alternatives or need many more years to figure it out, just aren't trying hard enough. Keen has even created a webpage and “Green Paper” outlining exactly how others can follow in their footsteps.
There are many chemicals used in the products we wear that cause all kinds of nasty diseases, but the hub bub around PFAS is exactly because they are "forever chemicals." Most lab-made substances break down over time, but PFAS are particularly horrible because they never break down. PFAS are generally used in waterproofing everything from jackets to shoes and bags, but they contribute to a variety of human health problems including cancer and birth defects.
I applaud Keen here for figuring out how to create the same end result, water repellency, without the crazy chemicals, and then offering to share this intel with the rest of their competitors. It goes to show that the other folks who claim that they don't know of alternatives or need many more years to figure it out, just aren't trying hard enough. Keen has even created a webpage and “Green Paper” outlining exactly how others can follow in their footsteps.
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