Working Group on PFAS

Boosting collaboration on minimizing and mitigating risks related to PFAS, while ensuring sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad class of synthetic chemicals essential in various semiconductor manufacturing processes due to their unique properties. However, their persistence in the environment and potential health risks necessitate finding alternatives. The semiconductor industry faces significant challenges in transitioning away from PFAS due to the extensive time required for developing viable alternatives and the sector's rapid growth.

This Working Group (WG) aims to address these challenges by fostering collaboration, research, and innovation to manage, mitigate, and eventually replace PFAS, ensuring environmental sustainability and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Objectives

The WG on PFAS shall:

Promote strategies for managing and mitigating PFAS to minimize environmental and health impacts.

Foster research and development efforts to identify, test, and implement suitable PFAS alternatives.

Advise the Commission on policy actions, ensuring alignment and compliance with EU and international environmental and health regulations while considering the industry's technological and economic constraints.

Potential participants

Representation should encompass all segments of the value chain, including manufacturers, equipment suppliers, as well as academic and research institutions. Industry associations could act as (co-)chairs. Participants are expected to contribute as rapporteurs for the various deliverables.

Deliverables

The WG is expected to establish a plan with specific deliverables and deadlines, building on already completed work. The deliverables could include:

Identifying and mapping existing research in the field.

Determining research priorities.

Discussing definitions and classifications of PFAS for semiconductors.

Identifying suitable entities to conduct the necessary research.

The WG on PFAS is a members only group and therefore the access is limited to the members of the Alliance on Processors and Semiconductor Technologies.

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