Page 153 - CW E-Magazine (19-8-2025)

News from Abroad

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Chemours, DuPont and Corteva announce $875-mn

PFAS claims settlement in US

Chemours, DuPont and Corteva state-wide PFAS contamination un-
have said that they have reached a settle- related to those sites, including from
ment with US state of New Jersey to the use of aqueous film forming
resolve environmental claims, includ- foam (AFFF).
ing those related to contamination by
PFAS. Settlement payments will total Of the total settlement amount of
$875-mn over a 25-year period to deal $875-mn, $16.5-mn is attributed to
with contaminants, besides creation of alleged PFAS contamination unrelated
a remediation fund of up $1.2-bn. The to the companies’ operating sites,
companies will split the costs under the dysfunction and other diseases. Law- including AFFF of $4.125-mn.
deal, which must still be approved by suits accusing major chemical com-
the courts. panies of polluting US drinking water Chemours will make half of the settle-
with PFAS chemicals have led to over ment payments, while DuPont will
The companies will also set up a $11-bn in settlements in 2023, with pay 35.5% and Corteva the rest, the
$475-mn reserve fund managed by a experts predicting that new federal companies said in a statement.
third party, which could be used if any regulations and a growing awareness
of the companies go bankrupt or fail to of the breadth of the contamination In 2023, the three firms had reached
complete remediation work required will spur more litigation and settle- a settlement agreement with the US
under the agreement. ments. state of Ohio for $110-mn to resolve
claims associated with PFAS.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and poly- The New Jersey settlement will
fluoroalkyl substances, are commonly resolve all legacy contamination Few months ago, New Jersey had
referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ as claims related to the companies’ informed that chemical manufacturer
these do not break down easily in the current and former operating sites 3M agreed to pay up $450-mn to re-
human body or nature, and are asso- (Chambers Works, Parlin, Pompton solve lawsuits over natural resource
ciated with certain cancers, hormonal Lakes and Repauno) and claims of contamination stemming from PFAS.
Cabot to acquire Mexico Carbon Manufacturing

from Bridgestone

US-based carbon black firm, Cabot, ply of reinforcing carbon products from
has agreed to acquire Mexico Carbon MXCB for Bridgestone. In addition,
Manufacturing S.A. de C.V. (MXCB) the facility also has the capability to
from Japanese try major, Bridgestone. manufacture other reinforcing carbon
products, providing flexibility to sup-
The reinforcing carbons manufac- port broader customer needs and future
turing facility was commissioned in growth opportunities.
2005 and is located in close proximity
to Cabot’s current reinforcing carbons basis, subject to customary closing MXCB is expected to enhance
facility in Altamira, Mexico, which has adjustments. Cabot’s global capabilities and support
been in operation since 1990. its long-term growth strategy. The trans-
Under the terms of the deal, Cabot action strengthens Cabot’s position as a
The agreement is to acquire MXCB will strengthen its partnership with global leader in carbon black by adding
for $70-mn on a debt-free, cash-free Bridgestone through a long-term sup- additional production capacity.

Chemical Weekly August 19, 2025 153

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