How new PFAS limits for food packaging affect brands and converters

05 nov. 2026

PFAS have long been used in food packaging for their resistance to grease, water and heat. However, growing concerns about their environmental persistence and potential health impacts have prompted increasingly stringent regulations worldwide.

Here we outline what PFAS are, how they are used in packaging, the regulatory landscape, and Flint Group Packaging Solutions’ approach to compliance and risk management.

What are PFAS?

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a large group of synthetic organofluorine chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms attached to an alkyl chain. Because of their strong carbon-fluorine bond, these chemicals are extremely resistant to degradation in the natural environment. PFAS have been widely used in various industries and consumer applications since the 1940s.

Where are PFAS used in the packaging industry?

PFAS are particularly valued for their water resistance, grease resistance, and thermal stability. These characteristics make them useful across a wide range of applications.

In the packaging industry, PFAS are widely used in food packaging applications such as grease-resistant paper for fast food containers/wrappers, pizza boxes and confectionery wrappers. PFAS can also contribute to mechanical resistance and, in some cases, enhanced oxygen barrier performance, such as in pharmaceutical blister packs. As a result, PFAS are present in a wider range of packaging materials and functional layers than might be immediately apparent.

What are the risks associated with PFAS?

Since PFAS are extremely persistent and do not break down easily in the environment and can move throughout ecosystems, resulting in various exposure scenarios, these chemicals are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.

Depending on their molecule size, some PFAS may be highly soluble in water and be extremely mobile in the environment. This means they can easily transport over long distances away from the source of their release.

Due to their highly persistent, mobile, bio accumulative, and toxic traits, exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to a number of health risks. Some PFAS have been found to possess carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic properties, and may also induce endocrine related health effects in humans and animals.

Where is PFAS use banned or restricted?

Across the globe, regulations are evolving and tightening controls to phase out or restrict PFAS.

In Europe, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is setting strict concentration limits on PFAS use in food packaging, to protect consumer health and the environment.

In the US, the FDA is regulating PFAS and restricting or phasing out high-risk PFAS.

Understanding PFAS requirements under PPWR

Effective 12 August 2026, Article 5(5) of the PPWR introduced a restriction on PFAS in food-contact packaging. In the context of the PPWR, food contact packaging is packaging that is intended for food contact or that is already in contact with food. This includes disposable packaging for filling at point of sale, such as single-use cups used to serve takeaway beverages.

PPWR limits on PFAS for food-contact packaging:

Individual non-polymeric PFAS detected by targeted analysis: 25 ppb
Total non-polymeric PFAS detected by targeted analysis: 250 ppb
All PFAS, including polymeric PFAS: 50 ppm to be determined as total organic fluorine (TOF)

Flint Group Packaging Solutions’ position on PFAS

Flint Group Packaging Solutions follows the chain of custody approach advocated by the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA), whereby it is not necessary to test all products. We implement this approach through two measures:

We conducted a risk assessment of the production processes with regard to potential PFAS contamination.
We do not intentionally use fluorinated substances or raw materials known to contain them in the formulation of their products intended for food packaging applications.

However, the presence of traces of these substances in products stemming from raw material impurities, from the process, or as adventitious contaminants, cannot be excluded.

As regulatory requirements continue to evolve, Flint Group Packaging Solutions is committed to supporting customers in understanding what these changes mean for their packaging applications. Through our regulatory expertise and technical support, we help brands and converters make informed decisions about inks and coatings for food-contact packaging.