Businesses warned of snowballing legal risks related to ‘forever chemicals’

Research comes as food firms found to have gone backwards on pesticides, and GRI releases draft standards on pollution

Experts have warned companies to be alert to snowballing legal risks linked to the use of harmful chemicals in products.  

New research by the environmental think tank Planet Tracker notes that US businesses are already on the hook for billions of dollars as a result of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. 

PFAS, which are found in everything from cosmetics and cleaning supplies to non-stick cookware and outdoor clothing, have increasingly been linked to serious health conditions including cancer.  

Planet Tracker quoted data from consumer advocacy group Drugwatch, which found that more than 15,000 PFAS-based lawsuits were active in federal courts at the start of 2026. 

Claims have been filed by individuals, municipalities and public utilities.   

Back in 2024, chemical firm 3M reached a $10.3bn settlement with a US water supplier, after announcing it would work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its portfolio by 2025. 

Recent analysis by non-profit Chemsec claimed to have found that 3M still manufactured thousands of products that included PFAS.  

In March, the firm’s annual report stated it had “made substantial progress in eliminating such use in the Company’s products” and it “continues to evaluate the availability and feasibility of adopting and incorporating third-party products into its product portfolio that do not contain PFAS”.  

Lawsuits linked to forever chemicals will continue to pick up steam, warned Planet Tracker, driven by new legal arguments and the introduction of tougher water and soil laws around the world. 

“This trend has created material long tail liabilities for exposed companies and their financiers,” it wrote.  

Meanwhile shareholder campaign group As You Sow published its latest study on pesticides this week, revealing a reversal in corporate commitments and disclosures since 2023. 

Of 17 major food companies, 10 were found to have reduced their publicly-stated ambitions and reporting over the past two years, with the average score dropping from 4.5 out of 27, to just 3.   

Among the companies analysed were Cargill, Danone, Mondelēz and Del Monte. 

The most dramatic shift identified was from General Mills – deemed an industry leader in the 2023 study, but scoring 0 this time around, after it reportedly eliminated “all pesticide disclosure from its public reporting.” 

The Global Reporting Initiative published draft frameworks for communicating on air pollution, critical incidents and soil pollution this week. 

A consultation is open on the proposals until June 8th, with webinars scheduled later in this month.