When buying a new piece of cycling kit, what do you look for? Fit of course, style no doubt too. Then there’s functionality; will it do what it’s designed to do? All these are important considerations. But what about the chemicals used within the fabric, and more importantly the damage they will end up doing to the wider world? Until recently absolutely no one was thinking about these polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) when scrolling through an online store looking for their next piece of kit.
These substances, known as ‘forever chemicals’ aren’t just used in cycling kit. They can be found in various foams, pacemakers, non-stick pans and thousands of other everyday products.
PFAS are resistant to heat, oil, grease and crucially for us and our kit, water. The problem is they are an ecological disaster waiting to happen. They were given the name ‘forever chemicals’ because they don’t break down. Ever. Which means they will eventually find their way into our water systems and soil where they will stay for hundreds of years.
If they are not minimised, says the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), “people, plants
