Paper Trails: PFAS in the Global Pulp and Paper Industry
The global pulp and paper industry—producing over 400 million tonnes of paper and paperboard annually—has used PFAS compounds in manufacturing processes and product treatments for decades. Fluorochemical surface sizing agents, PFAS-based paper strength additives, and grease-resistant coating formulations have been integral to food contact paper packaging, industrial paper applications, and specialty paper products. As PFAS regulation eliminates these uses, the industry faces the challenge of reformulating without compromising performance—while also managing legacy contamination from decades of PFAS-containing process water discharges at pulp and paper mills worldwide.
PFAS Use in Paper Manufacturing
PFAS applications in the paper industry fall into several categories. Surface sizing agents—applied to paper surfaces to control ink penetration and improve printability—have included PFAS-based formulations that provide oil and water resistance alongside print quality. Internal sizing with PFAS compounds improves paper strength and moisture resistance characteristics needed for packaging applications. The most significant PFAS use in the paper sector has been in food-contact packaging treatments—applying PFAS coatings to paperboard for fast food containers, bakery packaging, and fresh produce packaging to provide grease and moisture resistance.
Paper mill process water—used extensively in pulp washing, paper machine operations, and effluent treatment—collects PFAS from treatment applications and discharges them to receiving water bodies. Studies of rivers and streams receiving paper mill effluent have documented PFAS contamination in aquatic environments, with the specific PFAS compounds reflecting the formulations used at each facility. The pulp and paper industry is among the industrial sectors being evaluated for PFAS-specific effluent limitations under EPA’s developing effluent guidelines program.
The Food Packaging Transition
Grease-resistant food-contact paper packaging is the highest-profile PFAS application in the paper industry, subject to the most intensive regulatory and consumer pressure. The FDA’s voluntary phase-out of long-chain (C8) and then C6 PFAS food contact authorizations, combined with state-level food packaging PFAS restrictions in California, New York, Washington, and other states, has driven an industry-wide reformulation program. Major paper packaging suppliers including WestRock, Graphic Packaging, Clearwater Paper, and Sylvamo have invested in PFAS-free barrier coating technologies based on plant-derived materials, biopolymers, and mineral coatings that provide food contact performance without fluorochemical components.
The transition from PFAS-based to PFAS-free food packaging is substantially advanced but not complete. Fast food restaurants, bakeries, and fresh-cut produce suppliers are the primary market segments driving reformulation timelines; foodservice companies with significant brand exposure—McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Whole Foods—have announced PFAS-free packaging commitments that have catalyzed supplier transitions. Independent verification of PFAS-free claims through third-party testing programs is becoming standard practice as the “PFAS-free” label has proliferated without universal testing standards, creating potential for greenwashing claims that consumer advocates and regulatory agencies are monitoring.
Specialty Paper Applications: The Remaining Challenges
While food packaging PFAS phase-out is well advanced, certain specialty paper applications present greater technical challenges for PFAS-free conversion. Medical packaging—sterile barrier packaging for surgical instruments and medical devices—requires PFAS-containing materials for microbial barrier performance in harsh sterilization conditions. Filter paper for laboratory and industrial filtration uses PTFE membranes for chemical resistance applications where no alternative material provides equivalent performance. Industrial release papers used in adhesive tape manufacturing and composite materials processing rely on fluoropolymer coatings for release properties. These specialty applications are likely to receive essential use consideration in regulatory frameworks, with PFAS-free alternative development timelines determined by technical feasibility rather than market pressure.