All Scotchgard coatings are now free of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) also known as “forever chemicals”.
PFAS are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water.
They are highly persistent in the environment and there are mounting concerns about their safety.
Scotchgard used to be known for their PFAS stain guard treatments, particularly perfluorooctanyl, Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) and an unspecified Fluorochemical Urethane.
However, now they do not use PFAS.
Carolyn said:
Over the last several years, 3M transitioned our Scotchgard™ products to be formulated without PFAS chemistries.
Today, carpet that is pre-treated with Scotchgard™ products currently use formulations that do not rely on PFAS, such as a silicone-based formula, for example.
Please note that 3M cannot speculate about the availability or prevalence of products utilizing prior formulations in the supply chain, nor can we speak to the carpet manufacturers’ processes.
(This is an email conversation with Carolyn LaViolette, Senior Strategist, Communications at 3M in April 2024.)
On their website they say:
3M, the company that owns Scotchgard and still makes other PFAS-based products, has announced it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio.
3M (parent company to Scotchgard) will “exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025” and “work to discontinue use of PFAS across our product portfolio by the end of 2025”.
In terms of the Scotchgard product specifically, they say “we have eliminated the use of PFAS in our Scotchgard™ products that help protect soft surfaces in homes.” (Source)
What are the new stain guard chemicals being used today that are not based on PFAS? I review them here.
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Richard
I just watched that movie about Dupont getting sued. How is it even possible that it is still legal to use that stuff?
Contributor to Planet Detroit
January 24, 2025
Thank you for this informative article. I will check to ensure the Scotchgard product we putchased from Target does not contain PFAS.
It is important to hold companies like 3M and Target accountable for providing dangerous products to American households.
We also need to educate the public. I was only aware of PFAS in waterways before this (as in chemical runoffs). This is an eye-opener.
The comments below show confusion: are they now using PFBS or is that too being phased out? Is PFBS any less dangerous than PFAS? Maybe update the article on that.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
The article is updated on that. It’s other articles on other websites that are not up to date.
D forester
PFBS is absolutely a PFAS chemical. A quick google would have confirmed that. They switched purely for marketing reasons.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
They don’t use PFBS or any other PFAS in scotchgard anymore the other article about that is outdated.
Paulette
Can I use carpet today with the Scotchguard Protector . I have pets and want a
non-toxic home.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
You can review the new types of stain resistant carpet treatments here (3M did mention silicone) https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2024/04/what-are-non-fluorinated-stain-guard-chemicals.html
Eric
Looks like the replacement is somewhat better but still problematic.
—
Scotchgard’s “new” fabric protector contains short-chain (C4) PFBS which is toxic to humans, pets, and the environment, although less so than the original PFOS. Although PFBS is not as long-lived as PFOS in the first Scotchgard formulation, it is associated with many of the same adverse health effects as PFOS is known to cause. Among the most serious of these are:
Hormonal imbalances
Cancer
Developmental defects
Reproductive damage
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
that is very out of date, scotchgard is no longer based on PFAS
Eric
PFAS is a C8 chemical. Scotchguard discontinued the version using PFAS and switched to a C4 based one. It is not PFAS, but is related, and has some of the same health impacts. It is also less durable and less effective, so you tend to have to use more of the product. I’d be very interested if you have contradictory information.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
Yes this article is all about how they do not use PFAS including C4 PFBS anymore. That info is very outdated.
D Forester
You are wildly misinformed on the chemistry involved here. PFAS is a broad category of chemicals, to which C8 and C4 are both members. PFBS is a PFAS chemical.
Mitche
So which is it? They no longer include any PFAS in Scotchguard, or they will phase it out by the end of 2025, over a year away. They’ve said both, but it can’t be both.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
scotchgard is PFAS-free, they (3M) stil make other products that have PFAS that will be phased out a the end of 2025
jansen
yeah, and it will be in the shops till 2027. and noboddy knows about it!!!!
send this!!!!