PFAS Free Australia was established through practical experience in manufacturing, paper and packaging development, and the investigation of alternative materials and their chemical composition.
Our early work involved international paper manufacturers, packaging converters and product developers seeking alternatives to fluorochemical-treated food-contact materials. This led to investigations into the presence of PFAS in Australian packaging and the reliability of the evidence used to support chemical claims.
Through independent laboratory investigations and engagement with industry organisations, we developed a deeper understanding of the limitations of supplier declarations, analytical testing methods and finished-product verification.
Today, that experience underpins our transition towards evidence-based chemical assurance — connecting material knowledge, supplier information, appropriate analytical verification, traceability and documented supply-chain controls.
Our purpose is to help organisations understand not simply what is claimed about a product, but what the available evidence can reliably demonstrate.
PFAS Free Australia was established in 2018 following extensive experience in manufacturing, printing, paper and packaging development, and international engagement with material suppliers and manufacturers.
During visits to paper mills and manufacturing operations in Europe and North America, questions emerged about the chemistry used to deliver particular performance characteristics in food-contact packaging — especially resistance to grease, oil and moisture.
These investigations highlighted a fundamental issue: understanding the performance of a material does not necessarily establish the safety or chemical composition of the finished product.
That distinction became central to the development of PFAS Free Australia.
Subsequent work involved examining supplier declarations, investigating alternative materials and commissioning independent analytical testing of packaging products. Engagement with industry organisations, including Planet Ark and APCO, helped bring greater attention to PFAS in Australian food packaging and the challenges of verifying chemical claims.
Over time, this experience reinforced the need to move beyond declarations alone towards a more structured approach incorporating analytical evidence, material traceability and supply-chain accountability.
