BAM develops certified PFAS reference material made from used outdoor clothing
Important step on the road to a circular economy
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) has developed a reference material for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in outdoor textiles. It serves to ensure the reliability of analytical methods used to determine the content of certain PFAS in outdoor clothing. Compliance with PFAS limits is an important step on the road to a circular economy.
The certified reference material BAM-B003 stands for sustainability in two ways: Not only were old outdoor garments donated by employees used to produce it, but the reference material will also help to transfer outdoor clothing to a circular manufacturing process. This is because, to recycle textiles, manufacturers need to know exactly whether the raw materials are contaminated with harmful substances and, if so, to what extent.
Laboratories that test outdoor clothing for PFAS levels exceeding the limits can use the new reference material to check whether their analytical methods are delivering correct results. The PFAS levels in the reference material have been accurately determined and subsequently certified. If the laboratory measures the same PFAS levels in its analysis of the reference material, this means that it is delivering reliable results. BAM-B003 is one of the few PFAS reference materials on the market that is certified according to ISO 17034 and thus represents a reliable benchmark for laboratories.
On the way to a circular economy
The reference material represents an important step on the way to a circular economy. According to the EU Commission, European textile consumption is the fourth largest cause of environmental pollution and climate change – after food production, housing, and mobility. Textiles therefore represent one of seven areas of the DIN standardisation roadmap ‘Circular Economy’. ‘Reference materials for PFAS analysis are urgently needed,’ explains Matthias Koch, Head of the Organic Trace and Food Analysis Division. ’A number of regulations for limiting PFAS have been updated in Germany and Europe – for example, the Drinking Water Ordinance, the Federal Soil Protection and Contaminated Sites Ordinance, and EU standards for contaminants in textiles. However, to ensure compliance, laboratories must be able to guarantee that their results are correct. This requires certified reference materials."
Exactly the same amount of PFAS in every sample
The BAM clothing donors were also able to find out, if they wished, whether and to what extent their clothing was contaminated with PFAS. The appeal resulted in 42 textiles being tested for PFAS. The reference material was produced from the contaminated garments. To do this, the textiles were shredded, ground several times and cooled with liquid nitrogen in between to improve grindability and prevent the mill from overheating. To ensure that each bottle of reference material contains exactly the same amount of PFAS, the mixture was repeatedly checked for homogeneity during blending. The reference material contains 18 different PFAS. The exact content of each of these substances is specified in the certificate. BAM-B003 is available in the BAM webshop.
Contact:
Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM)
Division 1.7 - Organic Trace and Food Analysis
Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin
+49 30 8104-0
www.bam.de
BAM press release, 5 May 2025