--- title: "SPE Conference to Address PFAS Chemicals Landscape" id: "1281" type: "post" slug: "spe-conference-to-address-pfas-chemicals-landscape" published_at: "2023-07-11T13:22:14+00:00" modified_at: "2026-04-20T16:56:08+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/07/spe-conference-to-address-pfas-chemicals-landscape-001281/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2023/07/spe-conference-to-address-pfas-chemicals-landscape-001281.md" excerpt: "SPE conference to examine impact of PFAS bans, regulation, economic impact and alternatives." taxonomy_category: - "3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing" - "Blow Molding" - "Business" - "Design" - "Durables" - "Education & Training" - "Electrical & Electronics" - "Foam Processing" - "Industry" - "Injection Molding" - "Materials" - "Process" - "SPE News" - "Sustainability" - "Toys" - "Trending" taxonomy_post_tag: - "EPA" - "PFAs" - "Polyfluoroalkyls" - "Resin Formulations" - "SPE Conference" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/industry/) » SPE Conference to Address PFAS Chemicals Landscape # SPE Conference to Address PFAS Chemicals Landscape ### Baltimore event in October to assess regulation, economic impact and alternatives So-called “forever chemicals”—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—are garnering headlines these days, mostly related to pending bans and lawsuits about environmental and health concerns. In recent legal settlements, companies including 3M, Chemours Co., DuPont Co., Corteva Inc. and Solvay Specialty Polymers USA LLC have agreed to collectively pay more than $11.8 billion to assist with PFAS mitigation efforts, mostly having to do with helping to remove the chemicals from drinking water. 3M is to bear the lion’s share of those penalties, agreeing to pay up to $10.3 billion over 13 years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 29 also [announced its framework](https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-new-framework-prevent-unsafe-new-pfas-entering-market) for addressing the chemicals. The framework states that “EPA’s planned approach when reviewing new PFAS and new uses of PFAS” will be to ensure that “before these chemicals are allowed to enter into commerce,” there will be “an extensive evaluation to ensure they pose no harm to human health and the environment.” ## **SPE Launching Baltimore Conference** SPE will tackle this topic [Oct. 18-19 at a conference in Baltimore, Md.](https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=8316) called “PFAS in the Plastics Industry.” These are a highly diverse group of chemical compounds that can be found intentionally or unintentionally in products or waste streams from various industries, according to Dr. Iván D. López, SPE’s director of technical programs. > “These substances have been widely used due to their attractive physical and chemical properties, which enhance the durability and performance of many products. Notable properties,” he says, “include water and oil resistance, flame resistance and high-temperature resistance.” In the plastics industry, fluoropolymers are used for various applications, including electronics, compounds, membranes, non-stick coatings and corrosion inhibitors, among others. Additionally, substances such as mold release agents, foaming agents and process aids may contain PFAS in their formulation. But due to growing concerns about the negative effects of these substances, calls for bans on PFAS use are getting louder. The [European Chemical Agency](https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas) proposed earlier this year to restrict the manufacture and use of PFAS as a chemical class in Europe. ## **Replacing PFAS Is a Challenge for Industry** “This scenario presents significant technical and financial challenges for the plastics industry that uses these substances,” notes López. SPE will host the conference this fall to explore the regulatory landscape surrounding these substances, their potential technical and economic consequences, and the development of substitution alternatives. SPE has issued [a call for speakers](https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=8321) and López ([[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a0306051a0f102a5e191a0f4405180d) ) says he is accepting abstract submissions until Aug. 11. By **[Robert Grace](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/bobrcgrace-com/)** | July 11, 2023 ##### [Robert Grace](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/bobrcgrace-com/) [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 15, 2026Advancing Sustainable Printed Electronics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/advancing-sustainable-printed-electronics-011032/) [May 6, 2026Reinforcement Learning for Polymer Design and Manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/reinforcement-learning-for-polymer-design-and-manufacturing-011146/) [April 15, 2026ANTEC 2026: Rheology Understanding Leads to Competitiveness](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/antec-2026-rheology-understanding-leads-to-competitiveness-010797/) [April 30, 2026Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) [April 29, 2026Renewable Functional Coatings for Advanced Applications](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/renewable-functional-coatings-for-advanced-applications-011134/) [April 14, 2026How to Test for Chemical Resistance in Plastic Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/how-to-test-for-chemical-resistance-in-plastic-components-010963/) [April 23, 2026Conductive Polymers Revolutionize Fuel Cell Plates](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/conductive-polymers-revolutionize-fuel-cell-plates-011057/) [May 4, 2026Why Your Feeder Choice Is Quietly Undermining Consistency](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/05/why-your-feeder-choice-is-quietly-undermining-consistency-011175/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2023/07/spe-conference-to-address-pfas-chemicals-landscape-001281/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&text=SPE+Conference+to+Address+PFAS+Chemicals+Landscape&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&text=SPE+Conference+to+Address+PFAS+Chemicals+Landscape&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&t=SPE+Conference+to+Address+PFAS+Chemicals+Landscape](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&t=SPE+Conference+to+Address+PFAS+Chemicals+Landscape) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&title=SPE%20Conference%20to%20Address%20PFAS%20Chemicals%20Landscape&summary=SPE+conference+to+examine+impact+of+PFAS+bans%2C+regulation%2C+economic+impact+and+alternatives.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&title=SPE%20Conference%20to%20Address%20PFAS%20Chemicals%20Landscape&summary=SPE+conference+to+examine+impact+of+PFAS+bans%2C+regulation%2C+economic+impact+and+alternatives.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&title=SPE+Conference+to+Address+PFAS+Chemicals+Landscape](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=1281&title=SPE+Conference+to+Address+PFAS+Chemicals+Landscape) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88b7fbfdeae2edebfcb5d8e4e9fbfce1ebfba8cde6efe1e6ededfae1e6efa8a5a8dbd8cda8cbe7e6eeedfaede6ebeda8fce7a8c9ececfaedfbfba8d8cec9dba8cbe0ede5e1ebe9e4fba8c4e9e6ecfbebe9f8edaeeae7ecf1b5e0fcfcf8fbb2a7a7ffffffa6f8e4e9fbfce1ebfbede6efe1e6ededfae1e6efa6e7faefa7b7f8b5b9bab0b9](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#88b7fbfdeae2edebfcb5d8e4e9fbfce1ebfba8cde6efe1e6ededfae1e6efa8a5a8dbd8cda8cbe7e6eeedfaede6ebeda8fce7a8c9ececfaedfbfba8d8cec9dba8cbe0ede5e1ebe9e4fba8c4e9e6ecfbebe9f8edaeeae7ecf1b5e0fcfcf8fbb2a7a7ffffffa6f8e4e9fbfce1ebfbede6efe1e6ededfae1e6efa6e7faefa7b7f8b5b9bab0b9) - [#comments](#comments)