Swiss outdoor brand Rotauf has released results from independent laboratory tests confirming the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in all eight alpine locations it surveyed, including the Matterhorn and ski areas such as Arosa. The findings are part of a growing body of evidence showing the spread of so-called “forever chemicals” into remote natural environments.
Rotauf partnered with an accredited lab to collect soil and water samples between July and September 2025 from locations including the Jungfraujoch, Morteratsch Glacier, Oeschinensee, Grosse Scheidegg and Flumserberg. The Matterhorn sample showed the highest PFAS levels, with water values over 15 times higher than at other test sites. In six of the eight locations, the banned substance PFOS was detected.
“Finding PFAS at such altitudes and remote areas is alarming, even if limits were not exceeded,” said Dr. Basilius Thalmann of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), who provided scientific interpretation of the results.
Rotauf, which produces PFAS-free apparel in Switzerland, is using the findings to call on the outdoor industry to eliminate toxic substances from its supply chains. The company was one of only three brands to sign the Greenpeace Detox Commitment in 2016.
PFAS are widely used in outdoor products due to their water- and dirt-repellent properties, but are known to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially harmful to health and ecosystems. While no global standard exists for PFAS measurement in natural environments, the study adds to recent international research, including studies by Nature Geoscience and the Environmental Science & Technology journal, that highlight the chemical group’s presence in rainwater, snow and soil worldwide.
