Pfas in our beer??? Basic law condemns the invisible poisoning of our drinking water

28.01.2025 | Fundamental right

Pfas in our beer??? Basic law condemns the invisible poisoning of our drinking water

What if we told you that your beer might not be as pure as you think? Grondrecht vzw, the Citizens' Collective that fights against toxic PFAS pollution, is launching a shocking awareness campaign: a specially brewed beer with so-called 'local groundwater' from Zwijndrecht - an area that has been plagued by dangerous PFAS pollution for years. On the label? A confronting truth: “This beer contains high concentrations of PFAS”. A shock for the consumer, but above all a bitter reality for our living environment.

Why this action?

PFAS, or 'forever chemicals', are everywhere: in our water, our food, our blood. Even in our beer, especially if we were to use our local groundwater. We can't do that. It's too toxic. With this action we want to expose the absurdity of this reality. How is it possible that a refreshing pint is a symbol for a profound environmental scandal? The answer is simple: because in Europe we still allow PFAS to be produced and spread. This has to stop.

A wake-up call in a bottle of beer.

We won't stop there. We will be handing out this beer for free to employees of the 3M factory today at 1:30 pm - the epicentre of this pollution in Zwijndrecht. We are also inviting policymakers, journalists, environmental activists and concerned citizens to taste the impact of years of pollution for themselves. Literally and figuratively.

PFAS-free future: European ban NOW!

Our demand is clear: an immediate European ban on the production and use of PFAS. There are safe alternatives, and we need to embrace them now before it’s too late. Because if even our beer isn’t safe anymore, what’s left?

This action is part of the ‘Toxic Free Europe Now!’ action week by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and We Move Europe. This initiative represents the fight of numerous European hotspots where PFAS pollution is having a huge impact on local communities. This problem does not stop at regional borders – it requires a joint European response. Without action, we risk making all of Europe’s water and soil permanently toxic. Together with environmental organisations from across Europe, we are putting pressure on policymakers to stop the production of PFAS and start working on the safe remediation of the already existing pollution. We can no longer look away, the time to act is now.

This week of action is a direct result of the revelations by Le Monde and partners on 14 January 2025. This in-depth investigation shows how astronomically high the costs of cleaning up PFAS from our environment would be. At the same time, the report reveals how the legislative proposal for a European ban on PFAS is under heavy attack and is systematically delayed and weakened by the immense lobbying pressure of the chemical industry. Big companies spend huge budgets to block regulation and secure their profits, while citizens and ecosystems pay the price. That is why EEB and WeMove Europe, together with local NGOs across Europe, have organised this week of action. Under the slogan “TOXIC FREE EUROPE NOW” we call for action and awareness. As Grondrecht vzw we believe it is crucial to mobilize Flanders – and especially Zwijndrecht – and to strengthen this European project. We are proud of the numerous actions that are organized in other European countries and join forces for a PFAS-free future.

In addition to our local actions, we ensure that our message is also heard in Brussels. Our 'PFAS beer' is not only distributed to industry and stakeholders involved, but also to various governments and members of the European Parliament. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) plays a key role in this by making our campaign visible in the European capital. In this way, we show at all levels - from local to European - how urgent the PFAS crisis is and that the only solution is a total ban. It is time for policymakers and politicians to listen and act in the interest of our health and our environment. The introduction of the stricter rules for the treatment of PFAS-contaminated soil on Flemish construction sites is postponed again.

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