As

Water repellency doesn't just keep you comfortable. In extreme conditions, it can also offer critical performance features that can save lives. To achieve this, many apparel manufacturers create gear coated with water-repellent treatments, which help moisture bead up and roll off the outer fabric and membrane layers. Furthermore, to ensure you stay warm and dry, they rely on fluorinated chemicals.

Historically, these finishes have been made with perfluorinated or polyfluorinated chemicals, which contain fluorine, an incredibly effective water repellent (there are thousands of types of these chemicals, each with subtly different molecular structures and fairly similar functions. At Patagonia, we use "PFC" as a general shorthand).

However, fluoride impacts everything it touches and seeps deep into the environment. According to the EPA , the manufacture of these " permanent chemicals " harms human and animal health, accumulating in us through the air, water, and food. Furthermore, thanks to their nearly indestructible bonds, these chemicals can also persist in our environment for thousands of years.

That's why we've invested a lot of time, energy, and money to find the best PFC- and PFAS-free alternatives without sacrificing performance or durability (PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, is the newer terminology to encompass this broad class of chemicals. We use the most recognizable, "PFC-free," but if your Patagonia gear is PFC-free, it's also PFAS-free, PFOS-free, and PFOA-free).

What's the difference?

PFCs, PFAS, PFOS, and PFOA are different ways of conveying the same message: fluorinated chemicals with slightly different molecular structures and fairly similar functions. In the apparel industry, these acronyms are often used interchangeably. At Patagonia, if your gear is PFC-free, it's also free of PFAS, PFOS, and PFOA.

PCF-free

Patagonia's general term for products made without fluorinated chemicals.

Where We Are

Ensuring our waterproof and water-repellent products perform is not just a matter of safety. It's also about building a product that prioritizes longevity, so equipment stays in the field and out of landfills. That's why it has taken us time to transition to PFC-free materials. These lower-impact chemicals have required strategic and thoughtful implementation, as well as close collaboration with our supply chain partners.

Since we began this journey, we have drastically reduced the use of PFCs across all our product lines, using these chemicals only when specific products require them. Between 2013 and 2016, we were able to completely eliminate the use of long-chain fluorocarbon (C8)-based treatments in our DWR, guided by studies that demonstrated the negative impacts of C8s on the environment and human health. Instead, we began using C6s, a shorter-chain fluorocarbon that, at the time, was considered a less harmful chemical. After our switch, new research emerged showing that C6s are just as damaging. That's when we decided to move toward being 100% PFC-free.

In the fall of 2019 we launched our first set of products with PFC-free DWR, and in 2021 we introduced our first 100% PFC-free technical alpine products: the Dual Aspect Jacket and Dual Aspect Bibs for men and women, which eliminate PFCs from both the DWR coating and the water-repellent membrane.

In Fall 2022, 78% of Patagonia's water-repellent materials are PFC-free. (Maintaining your waterproof and water-repellent gear stays that way means giving it the care it needs. Remember, a clean third layer is a happy third layer. See our product care guide for tips.)

What's Next

After investing a significant amount of time and resources, we are well on track to be 100% PFC and PFAS free across our entire product line by 2024.

Without an established industry-wide goal to eliminate the use of these chemicals, we see this as an opportunity to inspire others. By working within a shared supply chain and encouraging other apparel brands to use the solutions we have researched and adopted, we hope to encourage large-scale changes and succeed in making more products PFC-free across the industry.