PARTNERS FOR HEALTHY AIR QUALITY

Throughout the years, Wallner Expac has partnered with filter manufacturers to supply them with expanded metals. Whether the need is residential, commercial, industrial, HEPA, microfiltration, or other type of filtration, we pride ourselves on providing strong and sustainable solutions that help deliver optimal air quality and contribute to a healthier environment.

 North America’s largest manufacturer of light gauge HVAC

 expanded metals

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 Developers of X-Mesh®, light gauge expanded metals

 specifically engineered for filter media backing.

 U.S. Patent 8,696,781

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 Manufacturers of MicroForm® expanded metals for

 microfiltration

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 Scalable, US-based manufacturing plants capable of

 producing expanded metal for many filter applications

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 Additional services include conical, corrugation, slitting,

 powder coating, engineering & design, and more

A number of the PFAS have also been identified as being probable causes of severe aliments including:

• Liver effects (serum enzymes/bilirubin, cholesterol)

• Immunological effects (decreased vaccination response, asthma)

• Developmental effects (birth weight)

• Endocrine effects (thyroid disease)

• Reproductive effects (decreased fertility)

• Cardiovascular effects (pregnancy induced hypertension)

• Tumors (liver, testicular*, pancreatic*)

• Cancer* (testicular, kidney)

While only a relatively small number of the overall 15,000+ PFAS have been thoroughly investigated, the severity of the “bad actors” has led to public pressure to eliminate these chemicals. Investors striving to mitigate risk are pushing manufactures to cease production of these chemicals and companies are beginning to respond. Most notably, 3M announced in December 2022 that it would cease production of PFAS by 2025.

The unique chemistry associated with the highly electronegative fluorine atom and its bonding behavior with carbon results in physical properties is not easily replicated via other, less onerous chemistries. This is resulting in a broad and rigorous search for single or combinations of chemicals to serve as replacements.

Recently, Brian Rosenstein discussed these challenges in an opinion column for Textile World, in which one statement was particularly poignant, “I was always taught not to present a problem without a suggestion on how to solve the problem. PFAS seems to have become an exception to that ‘rule.’” As legislative regulatory efforts to limit or eliminate PFAS increase, there will likely be certain applications excepted, but there will be fewer and potentially no suppliers willing to provide these chemicals. There will certainly be an innovation sprint to identify and implement the best possible alternatives to PFAS in a wide range of applications including nonwovens and textiles.

To Tell the Truth

Lastly, there are opportunities created by changes in consumer behavior. Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency around product compositions that are informing their views on issues related to single-use plastics and the presence of additives such as PFAS, which is creating pressure to change product designs. This pressure is the “stick” that drives innovation. They are also expressing desires for products that are sustainably and ethically sourced, more “natural,” and with greater ability to recycled and part of a circular economy. This continues to create opportunities for products comprised of innovative raw materials and designs. This consumer demand, and willingness to pay for the innovation, is the “carrot” that counterbalances the aforementioned stick.

The coming year brings with it an abundance of pressure points and positioning opportunities. The increasing need is obvious for agile innovators to rise to the occasion in the nonwovens space to find new outlets for excess capacity, find alternatives to increasingly proscribed materials and additives, and to meet growing consumer desire for products that consider both raw material sourcing and endof-life considerations. Companies first to find viable solutions will surely be touted as market leaders, and savvy-consumer favorites.

References:

1. European Commission, “Single-use plastics,” environment.ec.europa.eu, https://environment. ec.europa.eu/topics/plastics/single-use-plastics_en, Accessed 04-01-2023.

2. Interstate Technology Regulatory Council, “PFAS Fact Sheets,” pfas-1.itrcweb.org, https:// pfas-1.itrcweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HH_Eco_PFAS_Fact-Sheet_082422_ 508.pdf Accessed 06-01-2023.

3. Rosenstein, Brian, “PFAS Regulation Challenges,” Textile World, November/December 2022, https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/2022/12/pfas-regulation-challenges/