Wageningen University Joins European Effort to Remove Forever Chemicals from Medicine
Wageningen, Thursday, 8 October 2026.
Wageningen University has joined a new 89-partner European consortium, PFAROS, to develop safe, sustainable alternatives to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
The Shift Toward PFAS-Free Healthcare
This major research initiative directly addresses the intersection of medicine and healthtech, focusing on eliminating hazardous substances from pharmaceuticals and medical devices [1][2]. The primary benefit of this innovation is establishing a viable pathway toward a PFAS-free medical sector, thereby reducing human and environmental exposure to persistent ‘forever chemicals’ [1][2]. By replacing these toxic compounds with sustainable alternatives, the project aims to lower the toxicological risks associated with healthcare products while preventing persistent synthetic chemicals from accumulating in global ecosystems [1][2][3].
Replacing Forever Chemicals with Biobased Polymers
The innovation works by utilizing Wageningen University & Research’s (WUR) expertise in sustainable and circular chemistry to develop high-performance replacements for PFAS-containing components [1][3]. Specifically, researchers are focusing on modifying natural biopolymers—including starch, cellulose, guar, and pectin—to replace hazardous PFAS substances in polyurethanes and other medical device components [3]. On a laboratory scale, scientists assess the physical and chemical properties of these potential biobased alternatives to ensure they match the strict functional requirements of medical applications [1][2].
Implementing Safe and Sustainable by Design Principles
The development methodology is governed by the ‘Safe and Sustainable by Design’ principle, ensuring that safety and environmental impact are evaluated alongside functional performance from the very beginning [1][2]. Beyond synthesizing new materials, the research team conducts detailed toxicological assessments of the proposed alternatives to guarantee they do not introduce new health risks [1][2]. Furthermore, the project addresses the entire life cycle of these materials, evaluating their end-of-life phase and developing advanced water treatment technologies to remove existing PFAS contaminants from medical facility wastewater [1][2].
A Collaborative Five-Year European Initiative
The PFAROS initiative officially launched on September 29, 2026, embarking on an ambitious five-year timeline to transform the pharmaceutical and medical industries [2][5]. The large-scale project consortium brings together 89 academic and industrial partners [1][2]. Wageningen University & Research (WUR), based in Wageningen, Netherlands, is a key participant, leveraging its specialized research divisions to drive the project’s material science and safety assessments [1][2][4].
Leadership, Division of Expertise, and Funding
Within WUR, the research responsibilities are split between Wageningen Food Safety Research, which oversees toxicological evaluations, and Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, which leads materials development and wastewater purification [1][2]. The project’s efforts at WUR are directed by project leader Rian Ruhl [1][2]. This initiative is supported by the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) under grant agreement No 10125128 1, with funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program as well as industry bodies including COCIR, EFPIA, Europa Bio, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe [1][2].