‘Tidal wave’ of Pfas being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warn
Campaigners warn that major manufacturers are significantly increasing the production of PFAS to meet growing demand from the AI industry. This expansion is driven by the use of these chemicals in semiconductor fabrication and advanced datacenter cooling systems. Critics argue that this surge in production threatens ongoing regulatory efforts to restrict these persistent chemicals in Europe, the UK, and the US.
- ▪A survey by ChemSec found that nearly all of the ten largest PFAS manufacturers have plans to increase production in Europe, Asia, and North America.
- ▪Companies like Daikin, Arkema, and Chemours are expanding their operations specifically to supply PFAS for AI datacenter cooling and semiconductor manufacturing.
- ▪PFAS are utilized in two-phase immersion cooling systems for servers and in various stages of semiconductor fabrication to support the AI boom.
- ▪Regulatory advocates warn that this production increase could undermine recent moves to restrict PFAS usage in several major economies.
- ▪Only two major companies, Archroma and BASF, are exceptions to the trend, with BASF planning to exit PFAS production by 2028.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/sep/14/pfas-firms-tidal-wave-forever-chemicals-ai-industry-demand-datacentres |
| Publication time | Mon, 14 Sep 2026 06:00:26 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-14T06:11:52.385Z |
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Increased production risks undermining moves to restrict Pfas in Europe, the UK and US, said ChemSec. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersView image in fullscreenIncreased production risks undermining moves to restrict Pfas in Europe, the UK and US, said ChemSec. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersPfas‘Tidal wave’ of Pfas being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warnBig manufacturers planning to produce more of the forever chemicals to meet demand from datacentresDamien Gayle Environment correspondentMon 14 Sep 2026 02.00 EDTLast modified on Mon 14 Sep 2026 02.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GooglePfas companies are launching a “tidal wave” of forever chemicals production to meet demand from the AI industry, a campaign organisation has warned.Despite alarm over the chemicals, which…
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