Department of Ecology
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Get involved with the PFAS alternatives assessment

The Departments of Ecology and Health use this page to share information and engage with stakeholders and the public about the PFAS in Food Packaging Alternatives Assessment (RCW 70A.222).

Join our email list to stay up-to-date on our work. We welcome your input and feedback throughout our process. Contact the project coordinator, Rae Eaton (rae.eaton@ecy.wa.gov), with questions, and find more ways to get involved below. Review feedback received from stakeholders throughout the alternatives assessment process on our comments page.

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Sharing the second PFAS in Food Packaging AA

The Departments of Ecology and Health submitted the second PFAS in Food Packaging AA Second Report to the Legislature, and published the second PFAS in Food Packaging Second Alternatives Assessment in May 2022.

Our report found safer alternatives to PFAS in five types of food packaging:

• Bags and sleeves
• Bowls
• Flat serviceware, which includes items like plates and trays
• Open-top containers, which includes items like French fry cartons and food cups
• Closed containers, which includes items like clamshells

Publishing this report starts a two-year timeline: PFAS will be restricted in these five types of food packaging starting in May 2024. This restriction is in addition to the restriction on PFAS in wraps, plates, food boats, and pizza boxes that begins in February 2023.

Stay engaged with the AA process

Our team provided a project update and answered questions about the second PFAS in Food Packaging AA during our June 2022 overview presentation. Building on information from the first two AAs, we’re starting our work to find safer alternatives in other types of food packaging where we see evidence of PFAS use, like prepackaged microwaveable popcorn bags. 

We need stakeholder input to effectively scope the next AA. We encourage you to continue engaging with our process. We are especially interested in feedback about additional types of packaging we have not addressed that may contain PFAS. Contact the project coordinator, Rae Eaton (rae.eaton@ecy.wa.gov), with questions or concerns.

First PFAS in Food Packaging AA

The Departments of Ecology and Health submitted the PFAS in Food Packaging AA Report to the Legislature, and published the PFAS in Food Packaging Alternatives Assessment in February 2021.

Our report found safer alternatives to PFAS in four types of food packaging:

• Wraps and liners.
• Plates.
• Food boats.
• Pizza boxes.

Publishing this report starts a two-year timeline: PFAS will be restricted in these four types of food packaging starting in February 2023.

Background

In 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed a law to prohibit all per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in plant fiber-based food packaging. Consequently, PFAS use in specific products is banned two years after Ecology identifies safer alternatives for those products, as described in the Toxics in Packaging law (RCW 70A.222). 

The PFAS Alternatives Assessments (PFAS AAs) must consider chemical hazard, performance, cost and availability, and exposure when searching for safer alternatives. Each section of our second PFAS AA contains detailed findings and updated methods. Before publishing completed assessments in the Washington State Register, Ecology sends our PFAS AAs through an external peer review process.

Resources

Alternatives Assessment Topics of Interest

Hear from the Association for the Advancement of Alternatives Assessment on the current state of environmental justice and health equity considerations in the alternatives assessment approach. Get a list of the resources they provide in the webinar on their past webinars page.

Other PFAS Information

For more information, contact the PFAS AA Team:

• Rae Eaton, Ecology Project Coordinator – rae.eaton@ecy.wa.gov
• Lola Flores, Reducing Toxic Threats Unit Supervisor – lola.flores@ecy.wa.gov 

ADA Accessibility: The Department of Ecology is committed to providing people with disabilities access to information and services by meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Washington State Policy #188. To request an ADA accommodation, contact Ecology by phone at 360-999-7566 or email at hwtrpubs@ecy.wa.gov. For Washington Relay Service or TTY call 711 or 877-833-6341. Visit Ecology’s website for more information.