The company recently announced it will  to eliminate all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from its textile finishes and fibers portfolio by Dec. 31, 2022.

“Sustainability is a core value of our company, and we are and have always been on a quest for continuous improvement,” said Halsey Cook, president and CEO for Milliken & Co. “As part of our sustainability journey, we are committed to finding innovative and meaningful solutions to reduce our environmental impact. While we do not always begin our journey with perfect information, we strive to make adjustments as new information comes to light.”

Chad McAllister, executive vice president, Milliken & Co., and president, Milliken’s Textile Business, added that, “As a values-driven company, we’re always evaluating the needs and demands of the markets we serve. Our promise to our customers is to engineer the highest-quality protective and performance textiles, and our purpose is to positively impact the world for generations.”

The efforts are part of Milliken’s global sustainability strategy and come amid increasing non-governmental organization (NGO) pressure and state restrictions. For example, California is considering prohibiting the substances in everything from fabric accessories to household items, New York is doing the same for garments and carpets, while Vermont will ban the compounds in carpets, rugs and aftermarket treatments in mid-2023. Target, Ralph Lauren and several more fabric goods sellers are going PFAS-free between now and 2025.

Milliken & Company of Spartanburg, S.C. is a global manufacturing leader with a focus on materials science and applications across its textile, flooring, specialty chemical, and healthcare businesses.