The European research project PFAROS was officially launched on the 1st of September 2026. TZW participates in the project, which aims to develop safe, effective and scalable alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a wide variety of applications in the healthcare sector.
PFAS are used in polymers, coatings, processing aids and components for analytical synthesis, across the healthcare sector, due to their specific properties. However, their high persistence means that they remain in the environment for a long time. Replacing them is particularly challenging in the healthcare sector, where functionality, product quality and safety must continue to be ensured.
PFAROS addresses this by considering the entire life cycle of these substances and the materials they are used in. To begin, PFAROS will map PFAS applications throughout the global healthcare supply chain and will identify opportunities for improved data sharing across stakeholders. Digital tools will be used to ensure the knowledge gained accessible and actionable for healthcare professionals.
PFAROS will also develop and assess PFAS alternatives. Their quality and safety, potential exposure pathways and risks to human health will be investigated. Reproducible risk rankings will support the rapid and resource-efficient selection of suitable alternatives. Life cycle management, circularity and the treatment of solid and liquid waste streams will also be considered. The assessment follows the European “Safe and Sustainable by Design” framework.
PFAROS will develop a European roadmap for reducing and ultimately eliminating PFAS emissions in the healthcare sector. To achieve this, PFAROS will work closely with stakeholders from industry, academia, healthcare, regulatory authorities and civil society. The consortium brings together more than 90 partners and covers disciplines ranging from analytical chemistry, toxicology and materials science to environmental engineering, artificial intelligence and policy advice.
TZW will play a crucial role in PFAROS, leading the work package called Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management to ensure that results from the project are successfully disseminated and exploited across the full supply chain. TZW is also responsible for the overarching work related to the treatment of liquid waste streams where scalable and efficient methods will be developed to treat complex hospital and pharmaceutical wastewater. Both traditional concentration techniques and advanced destruction projects will be considered to provide integrated treatment trains for successful remediation.
The project will run from September 2026 to August 2031. It is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking under Grant Agreement No. 101251281. Funding is provided by the European Union through Horizon Europe, the private members and other contributing partners of the IHI JU.
Further information: PFAROS project page
