Turning PFAS Regulatory Challenges into Opportunities

The broad usage of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the health impacts increasingly associated with long-term contact, makes it important to reduce the exposure of humans and the environment to these toxic substances. Within the last several years, new global and regional chemical regulations have been introduced to control and eliminate the use of PFAS for specific applications. PFAS-free regulations are being implemented, especially in the U.S. and in the European Union.

UL Solutions has recently designed a method to evaluate and showcase non-PFAS materials. UL Standards & Engagement is pleased to announce the publication of UL 746G – An Outline of Investigation for Non-Fluorine and Non-PFAS containing materials.

This outline defines the requirements for an optional non-fluorine or non-PFAS rating for plastic materials. Materials that are found to comply with these requirements will then be searchable and have the rating published with the UL Recognized Component Mark in our UL Solutions Yellow Card™ program under QMFZ2 (Plastics - Component).

Join our webinar to learn about:

• Current PFAS regulatory actions across the world
• How UL 746, the Standard for Polymeric Materials — Use in Electrical Equipment Evaluations, defines non-fluorine and non-PFAS containing materials
• The benefits of obtaining non-PFAS ratings in our Yellow Card program

Speakers

Gene Smith, public policy issues management lead (sustainability) | UL Solutions

Gene has worked on the UL Solutions Global Public Affairs team since July 2022. In his role, he leads the development of global policy positions and tracks relevant international regulations and policies concerning sustainability.

He has worked at UL Solutions for 15+ years in various commercial roles in the sustainability and retail spaces, helping customers with voluntary initiatives and regulatory compliance. Understanding typical challenges and a broad array of our service offerings, he navigates and advises the organization on potential impacts and opportunities arising from government policies.

Gene earned his bachelor’s and master's degrees in civil environmental engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Rajan Thangaraj, product manager | UL Solutions

Rajan has over 20 years of experience handling industry regulatory aspects and has worked as the global product manager at the UL Solutions Netherlands location since January 2024. In this role, he leads new initiatives, drives business in plastics and engineered materials, and leads the sustainability aspects and initiatives across plastics, wire and cable.

He has liaised with and participated in European and international organizations — including UL Solutions, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) — in developing and advocating for codes, standards and regulations that help drive the specification of materials in regulated and standardized markets.

Rajan holds a master’s degree in polymer technology from the University of Mysuru, India, and a post-graduate diploma in plastics engineering from the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology, India.