Denmark will allocate 404 million Danish kroner to combat PFAS pollution by 2027. All parties in the Danish Parliament have agreed on a new action plan to address PFAS pollution in the country. The funding of 404 million Danish kroner will be used until 2027. An important part of the plan includes a ban on the use of PFAS in clothing and shoes, as well as economic support for the country’s water supplies to ensure clean drinking water.
Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke (Socialdemokratiet) stated that it is essential for Danes to feel safe using rainwear for their children, drinking water from the tap, and eating homegrown vegetables. Therefore, three significant initiatives in the action plan focus on prohibiting PFAS in clothing, shoes, soil, and drinking water.
Denmark will take the lead in the EU by introducing a ban on PFAS in clothing, shoes, and impregnating agents starting from July 1, 2026. According to the Ministry of Environment, around 60% of PFAS emissions in the EU come from textiles. The economic framework of the action plan will prioritize cleaning up PFAS in drinking water and soil, as regions estimate that up to 15,000 sites in the country may be contaminated with these substances.
Water supplies will have access to a grant of 110 million Danish kroner to avoid high water price increases for consumers and ensure clean drinking water. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are known for their harmful environmental and health effects. These chemicals, which have been used since the 1950s, are extremely persistent and have properties that make them water- and grease-repellent. However, they accumulate in blood and organs and are suspected of causing cancer and hormonal disruptions in the long term.
In recent years, there has been increased attention to PFAS pollution in Denmark. A notable incident occurred in the spring of 2021 when PFOS, a type of PFAS, was discovered spreading from a firefighting school in Korsør to a nearby field with grazing cows. At the EU level, Denmark is working with four other countries to propose a ban on PFAS substances throughout the EU, a proposal that was presented in January 2023 and is still under review.