Editing Gore-Tex (section)

==Environmental and health concerns==
[[Image:Goretex schema-en.png|thumb|Schematic of a composite {{nowrap|Gore-Tex}} fabric for outdoor clothing]]

PTFE is a [[fluoropolymer]] made using an [[emulsion polymerization]] process that utilizes the [[fluorosurfactant]] [[Perfluorooctanoic acid|PFOA]],<ref name=Leh>{{cite journal |last=Lehmler |first=HJ |title=Synthesis of environmentally relevant fluorinated surfactants—a review |journal=Chemosphere |volume=58 |issue=11 |pages=1471–96 | year=2005 |pmid=15694468 |doi=10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.11.078 |bibcode=2005Chmsp..58.1471L }}</ref><ref name=Lau2007>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lau C, Anitole K, Hodes C, Lai D, Pfahles-Hutchens A, Seed J |title=Perfluoroalkyl acids: a review of monitoring and toxicological findings |journal=Toxicol. Sci. |volume=99 |issue=2 |pages=366–94 |year=2007 |pmid=17519394 |doi=10.1093/toxsci/kfm128|doi-access=free }}</ref> a persistent environmental contaminant. The [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]] has classified PFOA as ''carcinogenic to humans.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=IARC Monographs evaluate the carcinogenicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) |url=https://www.iarc.who.int/news-events/iarc-monographs-evaluate-the-carcinogenicity-of-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa-and-perfluorooctanesulfonic-acid-pfos |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=www.iarc.who.int |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gore pledged in 2017 to eliminate PFCs such as PFOA by 2023, although the core technology will continue to be based on PTFE,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gore to drop waterproofing PFCs |url=https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i7/Gore-drop-waterproofing-PFCs.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Chemical & Engineering News |language=en}}</ref> which is a PFAS compound.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-02 |title=Global brands lied about toxic "forever chemicals," new study shows - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/3m-dupont-pfas-forever-chemicals-hid-evidence-study/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sheldon |first1=Daniel J. |last2=Parr |first2=Joseph M. |last3=Crimmin |first3=Mark R. |date=2023-05-17 |title=Room Temperature Defluorination of Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) by a Magnesium Reagent |journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society |language=en |volume=145 |issue=19 |pages=10486–10490 |doi=10.1021/jacs.3c02526 |issn=0002-7863 |pmc=10197119 |pmid=37154713 |bibcode=2023JAChS.14510486S |quote=The largest single use material within the PFAS compound class is poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE)}}</ref> Many Gore-Tex products have a [[durable water repellent]] coating and the version that do not contain PFCs of environmental concerns are marketed as "Gore PFC<sub>EC</sub> Free DWR". Unlike the "Gore DWR", it lacks any form of oil repellency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQ {{!}} GORE-TEX Brand |url=https://www.gore-tex.com/support/frequently-asked-questions |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.gore-tex.com |language=en}}</ref>

From 2024 onwards, the company is replacing ePTFE membrane with an [[expanded polyethylene]] (ePE) membrane in consumer fabrics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helms |first=Hayley |date=2023-10-24 |title=How Patagonia and Gore-Tex Are Making Waterproof-Breathable Earth-Friendly Too |url=https://www.gearpatrol.com/outdoors/a43241598/gore-tex-patagonia-expanded-polyethylene/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Gear Patrol |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greens |first=Rob |date=2023-11-01 |title=The Evolution of Gore Tex - ePTFE, ePE and PFC-free DWR Treatments |url=https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/sustainable_gear_the_evolution_of_gore_tex_-_eptfe_epe_and_pfc-free_dwr_treatments-15429|access-date=2025-01-06 |website=UK Climbing |language=en-UK}}</ref> The new material, while intended to perform comparably to the existing ePTFE material, will cost more, and require more frequent washing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leuven |first=Chris Van |date=2023-05-09 |title=We Tested First GORE-TEX Products With ePE Membrane |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/gear/gore-tex-epe-membrane |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Men's Journal |language=en}}</ref>

=== Pollution lawsuit ===
In 2023, two lawsuits have been filed against Gore on the matter of PFAS related water pollution around its [[Cecil County, Maryland]] manufacturing plant and the [[Maryland Department of the Environment]] has ordered an investigation and residents in the monitoring area have been offered bottled water.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Timothy B. |date=2023-07-19 |title=Maryland investigating 'forever chemicals' near industrial plant in Cecil County |url=https://www.bayjournal.com/news/pollution/maryland-investigating-forever-chemicals-near-industrial-plant-in-cecil-county/article_f0c3195c-1ce7-11ee-937d-6b7e9ab39a5d.html |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Bay Journal |language=en}}</ref> One of the lawsuits alleges that the company knew about the dangers of PFOA/PFAS since the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gore has known of the dangers of PFAS since the 1990s, lawsuit says |url=https://whyy.org/articles/gore-lawsuit-pfas-contaminating-water/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=WHYY |language=en-US}}</ref>

A lawsuit was filed by the state of Maryland in December 2024, focusing on liability for decades of pollution of [[Forever chemical|Forever chemicals]] left by thirteen Gore-Tex manufacturing facilities in [[Cecil County, Maryland|Cecil County]].<ref name="q639">{{cite web |author=The Associated Press |date=2024-12-27 |title=Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic 'forever chemicals' |url=https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2024/12/maryland-sues-maker-of-gore-tex-over-pollution-from-toxic-forever-chemicals.html |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=[[pennlive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Willis |first=Adam |date=2024-12-18 |title=Maryland sues GORE-TEX maker for decades of forever chemicals pollution |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/maryland-suit-wl-gore-associates-pfas-forever-chemicals-W6PRAPMG6NCPBAQME2BS2XSTC4/ |access-date= |website=[[The Baltimore Banner]] |language=en}}</ref>