PFAS

What does PFAS stand for and what are they?

Meet PFAS, aka Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (but don’t worry, no one expects you to remember that!). These sneaky chemicals have been used in a load of products going right back to the 1940s, and there are more than 4,700 of them.

Why the nickname “forever chemicals,” you ask? Well, they’re practically invincible! Some of them can stick around for over 1,000 years before breaking down, which makes them an environmental villain of epic proportions. These stubborn substances don’t just lurk in the ground, they’ve started popping up in animals, and yes, even in us humans too!

What products are most likely to contain PFAS?

Unfortunately PFAS have been found in loads of things, here are a list of some of the offenders:

• Food packaging like grease proof paper, sweet wrappers and pizza boxes
• Water resistant products like hiking boots and rain jackets
• Non-stick cookware like frying pans
• Paints
• Stain resistant furniture and carpets
• Personal care products like soaps, shower gel, and even in some toilet papers!

In some cases, PFAS help make these products super useful—like waterproof jackets. But other times, they sneak in due to contamination during the manufacturing process. Either way, these chemicals are basically everywhere!

What are the impacts of PFAS?

Thanks to PFAS being used everywhere, they’ve made their way into waste streams and waterways. Now, they’re showing up in some pretty concerning places like soils (even on agricultural land), groundwater, surface water and even our drinking water. PFAS have even been found in fish and dairy products which is a little unsettling when you think about how often these chemicals are now showing up on our plates.

But it’s not just bad news from the environmental side, they also have some seriously nasty health effects in humans. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency they can cause problems such as

• Decreased fertility
• A higher risk of certain cancers
• High cholesterol
• A weakened immune system
• Developmental issues for kids
• Even liver damage!

It's all pretty bleak, right? Because these chemicals don’t break down easily (they’re basically indestructible), the dangers are real—not just now, but for future generations too.

How do PFAS get into toilet paper?

Just when you thought PFAS couldn’t get any sneakier, they’ve now been found in—wait for it—toilet paper! A recent study from the University of Florida discovered that these pesky chemicals are showing up at waste treatment facilities, and it’s likely due to how some rolls are made.

The real kicker? If your TP is made from recycled paper, it gets exposed to PFAS twice—once when it’s first made into paper, and again when it’s recycled into toilet paper. This is where the wonderfully-named 6:2 diPAP (another catchy title!) comes into play, being one of the most common PFAS found in toilet paper.

When we flush that TP down the toilet, the PFAS hitch a ride straight into the sewage system, and from there, they make their way into our waterways! One study in France found that toilet paper could be responsible for up to 89% of certain types of PFAS in wastewater. Who knew your bathroom habits could have such a big environmental impact?

Are Cheeky Panda products PFAS free?

I know what you are thinking, that is a lot of doom and gloom. But having heard about this problem we wanted to make sure that our products weren’t putting you or planet at risk. That’s why we put our toilet paper, facial tissues, wipes and straw range through rigorous third party testing for the presence of PFAS, And guess what? Drumroll please... they all came back PFAS Free! Not that we were surprised—we know our supply chain like the back of our paw!

Special shout-out to our straw range, too, for being totally PFAS-free. Fun fact: a study in Belgium found PFAS in 18 out of 20 paper straws because it helps them not fall apart in your drink (that doesn’t sound like a fun party)! But not to worry—Cheeky Panda bamboo straws are showing the world you don’t need those naaaasty chemicals to make a strong straw! Cheers to that!!