A class action lawsuit has been filed against the makers of Gore-Tex.
Attorneys Steve Berman and Catherine Gannon have filed a class action, consumer rights, environmental litigation suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. The case was filed in court on February 11, 2025, and alleges that W.L. Gore & Associates knowingly sold products that contained forever chemicals, otherwise known as PFAS or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
“Gore has allegedly continued to use these harmful chemicals in its outdoor gear while also seeking to conceal the harms of its use from the public through a greenwashing campaign,” the complaint states. “Gore promised consumers it was “Committed to Sustainability” and “Environmentally Sound” and that its laminates were “PFC* Free” and reflected “Responsible Performance” all while continuing to use environmentally harmful PFAS in its manufacturing process.”
The suit also alleges that Gore failed to disclose to its consumers that Gore-Tex fabric sheds PFAS into the environment and water supply during use.
Those wishing to join the lawsuit should contact Hagens Berman Sabol Shapiro LLP.
Gore-Tex is a breathable waterproofing agent that is used by companies across the outdoor industry and beyond. It can be found in gloves, hats, jackets, and pants.
The outdoor industry has relied on Gore-Tex as its most breathable option for waterproofing for years. In 2021, it was announced that a new PFAS-free version of its Gore-Tex membrane had been created. The lawsuit alleges that the company is still selling goods with the previous chemical makeup, however, and said that the company has relied on “greenwashing tactics” to market and sell its product to customers.
“Gore claims its products represent “Responsible Performance,” and “Environmentally Sound” products, which attorneys call empty promises.
As of January 2025, PFAS-based waterproofing is banned from apparel for sale in both California and New York, according to the New York Times. Theresa McKenney, director of sustainability at Nemo, told the NYT that PFAS chemicals are cheap and perform well, which has made it difficult for the industry to transition away from them on their own.
Wearing PFAS gear is unlikely to harm the user, but the harm comes when those chemicals run off of the outerwear and seep into the soil, water, and air, according to Arlene Blum, a biophysical chemist at University of California Berkeley.
Original Post from this site