The State of California has passed a bill to end the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in new fabrics and textiles across the state. The California State Assembly passed The Safer Clothes and Textiles Act on Aug. 30, 2022. The bill now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. If signed into law, it would come into effect from Jan. 1, 2025. Specifically, the new law would prohibit the manufacture, distribution or sale of any new textiles containing regulated PFAS. Additionally, manufacturers must use the least toxic alternative when removing regulated PFAS from their textiles to comply with the law. Scientists have found links between exposures to PFAS and a host of health effects, including cancer, hormone disruption and congenital disabilities.

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