Major manufacturers are ramping up production of PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', to meet the growing needs of the AI industry, particularly for datacentre cooling and semiconductor manufacturing. A survey revealed that nearly all of the top ten PFAS producers plan to expand their operations across Europe, Asia, and North America despite ongoing concerns about the chemicals' toxicity and environmental impact.
Companies like Daikin and Arkema are investing in new facilities to support this demand, with PFAS being integral to innovative cooling systems and battery production. However, analysts caution that the increased use of these chemicals could lead to significant environmental liabilities and health risks, as they are known to persist in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.