Utne Youth Girl Pants

All our products marked with the PFAS-free logo use a water repellent treatment that is free of PFAS substances.

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a group of more than 10.000 substances also known as fluorocarbons. They build up in nature as they do not degrade. In greater concentrations, they are proven to pose a hazard to both human health and the environment.

PFAS has been common to use for the so-called “Durable Water Repellent” finish (DWR): It means that water bounces off the surface rather than being absorbed by the fabric and making it wet. Using PFAS has been an effective treatment to achieve a durable water repellency for waterproof fabrics, but also other applications like ski waxes or food packaging.

Since these chemicals have shown to be harmful for both people and the environment, Bergans is working to phase out all fabrics containing PFAS finish and replace with more environmentally friendly, PFAS-free treatments. All the membranes we use are already free for PFAS. You can read more on PFAS and how we work to eliminate these.

A significant part of the challenge of using alternatives to PFAS lies in the lower durability of these water repellent solutions. That means that using a waterproof garment with a PFAS-free finishing requires you to re-impregnate these more often than before, to achieve a good water-repellent functionality also over time and after many washes. Anyhow, please always consider where and when it’s necessary to reduce environmental impact.

More info on how to wash and reimpregnate.