The International Housewares Association (IHA) and the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance (CBA) are co-sponsoring an online roundtable on July 27 to examine the proposed regulation of PFAS chemical usage and its looming impact across a wide range of housewares products.
Ten states have pending legislation to regulate PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that are used to make thousands of products. These states, and likely more to come, are considering everything from mandatory material-usage disclosure to bans on the sale of impacted products. An issue once thought to affect mainly certain non-stick coated cookware and bakeware could impact a wide range of housewares products that come in contact with food.
IHA and CBA are partnering to inform the housewares industry about PFAS chemical science, legislation and best practices related to the issue.
The webinar — “What Are PFAS? And What the Housewares Industry Needs To Know About Them… Now.” — is set to run July 27, 1-2 p.m. Eastern Time. A panel of experts on the PFAS issue will share key information, insights and updates to help manufacturers, marketers and retailers prepare for proposed PFAS regulations and their impact on the domestic and international housewares industry.
The panel (pictured above L-R) includes Fran Groesbeck, managing director, Cookware & Bakeware Alliance; Tobias Gerfin, CEO of Swiss kitchenware company Kuhn Rikon AG and president of the European Association for Cookware, Cutlery and Flatware (FEC); and Thomas Lee, a partner in the Energy, Environment and Infrastructure Practice Group of Bryan, Cave Leighton and Paisner and leader of the California-based law firm’s PFAS practice. Peter Giannetti, editor-in-chief of HomePage News, will moderate the roundtable discussion. The panelists will take questions near the conclusion of the session.
“We are facing several issues with proposed PFAS legislation, most importantly the misinformation and misunderstandings regarding this topic and the cookware and bakeware industry,” said Fran Groesbeck, managing director of CBA. “This is no longer just about non-stick cookware. We need to share the right science, the Good Science, on this important issue.
“IHA is an incredible friend to CBA, and we are so grateful for their partnership on this issue,” Groesbeck continued. “Together with the IHA, and the other guests of the webinar at FEC and BCLP Law we know we can help shed light on what people need to know about this important topic.”
“IHA is very pleased to be partnering with CBA and FEC to bring critical information about how PFAS legislation directly impacts companies within the home + housewares industry – the ramifications are too important to ignore,” said Derek Miller, IHA president and CEO.
The live online roundtable is complimentary to IHA, CBA and FEC members.
