Quick answer: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) — known as forever chemicals — are present in a range of cleaning products, firefighting foams and surface treatments used by contractors across the UK. The UK Government published its first PFAS Plan in February 2026, committing to accelerate restrictions under UK REACH by December 2028. A ban on PFAS in firefighting foams is expected to be decided in 2027. Persistent Organic Pollutants restrictions tighten in December 2026. For cleaning contractors, softwash operators and facilities managers, the regulatory direction is clear: PFAS in cleaning products is under increasing scrutiny, and contractors should be reviewing their chemical procurement now.
PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals used widely in industry, consumer products and cleaning applications because of their extraordinary chemical stability. That same stability is the problem: PFAS do not break down in the environment, accumulate in human tissue and wildlife, and are now found in drinking water, soil and food chains globally. They are called forever chemicals because they persist essentially indefinitely once released.
For cleaning contractors, the relevance is direct. PFAS appear in some cleaning product formulations — particularly those marketed for water repellency, stain resistance, or non-stick properties. They are also a key component of firefighting foams (AFFF) used across industrial, aviation and fire service contexts.
The UK PFAS Plan — February 2026
On 3 February 2026, the UK Government published its first PFAS Plan — a policy framework committing to accelerate the restriction of PFAS sources under UK REACH and align more closely with the EU's approach, with a target of December 2028 for key restrictions. The plan acknowledges there are no quick fixes and that PFAS will remain present in the environment for years, but signals a clear direction toward tighter controls across all sectors.
Key actions from the PFAS Plan include a ban on PFAS in food packaging from April 2026, restrictions on PFAS in toys, and a consultation on statutory limits in drinking water. Further restrictions on PFAS in textiles, furniture and cleaning products are explicitly flagged as areas under consideration.
Firefighting foams — restrictions expected 2027
HSE ran a consultation on PFAS in firefighting foams (AFFF) which closed in February 2026. A decision on whether to implement a UK REACH restriction on PFAS in firefighting foams is expected in 2027. This is directly relevant to industrial sites, airports, fuel storage operators, and any facility using AFFF-based fire suppression systems. Contractors maintaining or cleaning those systems need to be aware that the foam formulations currently in use may face restriction.
At EU level, PFAS in firefighting foams are already restricted — from October 2030, PFAS in firefighting foams above 1 mg/L cannot be placed on the EU market or used.
Persistent Organic Pollutants — December 2026
The Draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations 2026 are proposed to come into force on 16 December 2026. These tighten restrictions on PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) — specific PFAS compounds with particularly well-documented health and environmental concerns. Contractors using any products containing these substances need to ensure compliance before December 2026.
What this means for cleaning contractors
The immediate practical implications for cleaning contractors are:
- Review chemical procurement — check whether any cleaning products in your supply chain contain PFAS. Supplier Safety Data Sheets should disclose fluorinated compounds. Products marketing water repellency or non-stick properties are the most likely candidates.
- Environmental Permitting and washdown runoff — PFAS in washdown water that enters drainage systems is an environmental liability. As PFAS restrictions tighten, enforcement of environmental permitting for trade effluent containing PFAS compounds is likely to increase. See: Environmental Permitting guidance →
- COSHH assessments — where PFAS-containing products are used, COSHH assessments must reflect the actual hazard profile of those products. PFAS are classified as substances of very high concern under REACH and must be treated accordingly.
- Softwash and biocide products — some softwash formulations use fluorinated surfactants. With PFAS restrictions coming, now is the time to confirm whether products in your range are PFAS-free and to source compliant alternatives.
Related guidance
COSHH Regulations 2002 →
Environmental Permitting and washdown runoff →
Biocide labelling compliance →
Chemical hazard reclassification August 2026 →
Draft Chemicals (Health and Safety) Regulations 2026 →
Cleaning trade hub →
Facilities management hub →
Choose the right machine for the job
