The Forever Lobbying Project is a groundbreaking cross-border investigation that exposes the true cost of PFAS pollution on the environment, science and politics.
Led by 46 journalists and 29 media partners across 16 countries, with support from 18 international academics and lawyers, this interdisciplinary initiative uncovers the orchestrated lobbying and disinformation campaign by the PFAS industry and its allies to undermine efforts to restrict these hazardous chemicals.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often dubbed “forever chemicals”, are a family of over 10,000 synthetic compounds produced by a small number of corporations. Renowned for their near-indestructibility, these chemicals persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms, including humans, where they are linked to a range of illnesses.
The project reveals the staggering financial burden of PFAS contamination in Europe if emissions remain unchecked: €2 trillion over 20 years, equivalent to an annual bill of €100 billion.
This raises a critical question: Who will shoulder the cost if polluters are not held accountable?
In February 2023, five European countries proposed a groundbreaking universal restriction on PFAS under the EU chemical regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). This ban aimed to encompass the entire PFAS chemical universe, with some exceptions to allow time for alternative solutions.
However, the proposal has faced intense resistance from hundreds of industry players representing approximately 15 sectors. These entities have mounted a concerted lobbying effort across Europe to dilute or derail the initiative.
The Forever Lobbying Project subjected key industry arguments to rigorous scrutiny using an innovative “stress test” methodology. Many of these arguments were found to be fearmongering, false, misleading or even potentially dishonest.
The investigation exposed how industry lobbyists employed influence tactics reminiscent of those used to defend tobacco, fossil fuels and pesticides, contributing to a polluted public debate shaped by “Merchants of Doubt”.
Building on the concept of “expert-reviewed journalism,” pioneered in the IJ4EU-supported Forever Pollution Project in 2023, the investigation enlisted academics and lawyers specialising in fields such as environmental chemistry and criminology.
Methodologies for stress-testing lobbying arguments and estimating remediation costs were developed in collaboration with leading academic experts.
The team worked with EU lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory and the PFAS Project Lab to gather over 14,000 unpublished documents related to PFAS. This collection, the largest of its kind, is now publicly accessible in major archives such as the Industry Documents Library at the University of California, San Francisco, and the Toxic Docs database at Columbia University.
The Forever Lobbying Project highlights the urgent need for accountability and transparency in addressing PFAS pollution. By exposing the tactics used to protect corporate interests at the expense of public health and the environment, the project underscores the broader implications of unchecked lobbying and disinformation.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.I understand
