PFAS | Phasing Out Fluorocarbons
For over 10 years, we’ve been proactively phasing out fluorocarbons (PFAS) whilst pushing for greater honesty regarding PFAS use.
Our DNA has always been to develop technical, high-performing durable products that are fit for purpose. For over 40 years, we’ve been keeping people warm and dry so they can safely spend more time in the outdoors. Driven by values, and not legislation, for the last 10 years we’ve looked for other ways of maintaining water repellency, breathability, and durability from lower-impact alternatives.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a category of synthetic chemical that are used to make products waterproof. The characteristics of PFAS means they're the perfect addition to outdoor products. Adding PFAS to a fabric means water beads on its surface and rolls off, rather than being absorbed. Forming a basis for membranes and weather-proof treatments such as durable water repellent (DWR) coatings in outdoor clothing, shoes, tents and backpacks as well as a multitude of other products.
What’s the difference between fluorocarbons/ PFCs/ PFAS etc?
A fluorocarbon is a manmade compound formed by a bond between fluorine and carbon. There are many different types, hence the use of various—and often confusing— acronyms such as PFC, PFAS and PFCec, used by the textile industry to define and categorise the harmful ones. Recently, the business and scientific community have agreed upon PFAS as the collective name for relevant fluorocarbons.
PFC: Perfluorinated compounds (or carbons, or chemicals).
PFAS: Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
PFCec (GORE-TEX’s definition): Perfluorinated compounds of environmental concern .
Where are PFAS found?
There’s increasing research that demonstrates PFAS can leach from materials and gradually find their way into the water system. Although these substances do not occur naturally in nature, they can now be detected everywhere on earth. The compounds themselves have been associated with health problems in both wildlife and people, and they have been highlighted to be persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic. The impact of outdoor clothing as a route of exposure has been explored but is still not wholly understood.
Outdoor clothing isn’t the only source of exposure. PFAS are used widely in firefighting foams, non-stick metal coatings, paper food packaging, creams and cosmetics, textiles for furniture, paints, chrome plating, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, but as an outdoor industry, we recognise we must take responsibility to initiate change. Even more so because our people see the effects on the natural world first-hand and want to do what we can to protect it.
Our progress.
Through strategic approaches with material sourcing, strict internal due diligence testing, and collaboration with our ingredients partners, we have met our target to phase-out all intentionally added PFAS for AW25.
By continuously improving our material choices and working closely with our supply chain, we remain focused on minimising our chemical footprint, and have started reporting our chemical management for the first time in our 2025 Sustainability Report.
of AW25 Rab products are PFAS-compliant.
A complex reality.
Because of their long-lasting nature, fluorine-containing substances can transfer within the supply chain, in retail, or even during use, therefore we cannot rule out that traces of PFAS may occur on a product.
We declare products as PFAS-compliant when we have replaced all intentionally added PFAS, and are working in compliance with current EU and US legislation.
Product care.
We want to make sure that the garments we create have as little lasting impact on our planet as possible.
Removing forever chemical treatments from the outdoor industry is just one way we can do that. Another is to make sure they stay useful for as long as possible. So caring for your clothing is essential to make sure we aren't making more of an impact than we need to.
As we move away from the more harmful chemicals to our newer less harmful alternatives, the way we care for our gear is going to change.
We need to make that extra effort to keep them in proper working order:
Washing waterproof garments is key to performance and longevity. Wash more frequently (every 1-3 months), use a cleaner that is designed for waterproof shells, and avoid fabric softeners, which coat the fabric and make it less water-repellent.
Tumble dry (or iron under a cloth) to finish, as heat is an essential part of reactivating the water-repellent properties.
If a garment starts to soak up moisture ‘wetting out’, it’s time for re-proofing. Incorporate a PFAS-free re-proofing solution when performing the above steps.
Suitable product care can be performed at home, but the Rab Service Centre also provides professional wash and reproofing services.
You can read our guide to washing waterproofs at home here:
We’re applying the lessons learned in the outdoors to the serious challenges facing our world.
From climate change and the pressure on precious natural resources to fairness and opportunity for all. We aim higher, and we find a better way.