Textile Wastewater Faces Europe’s PFAS Reckoning

LIFE CASCADE pilots a joint factory and municipal approach to curb PFAS in textile wastewater

11 Feb 2026

Europe’s effort to curb so-called “forever chemicals” is shifting towards practical implementation, with the textile industry under growing scrutiny from regulators.

An EU-backed initiative, LIFE CASCADE, is piloting a hybrid wastewater treatment model aimed at reducing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released by textile manufacturing. The project comes as policymakers advance tighter restrictions on PFAS and strengthen rules on micropollutants in urban wastewater.

PFAS are widely used in textile coatings for their water- and stain-resistant properties. Their persistence in the environment, however, has made them a regulatory concern. Most conventional wastewater treatment plants were not designed to remove these compounds, leaving industrial operators and municipalities facing higher compliance costs as standards evolve.

LIFE CASCADE seeks to address this gap through a coordinated approach. Rather than relying on a single technology, the project combines on-site treatment at textile factories with additional processing at municipal wastewater plants.

At factory level, activated carbon filtration systems are used to capture a large share of PFAS before effluent enters public sewer networks. Residual contamination is then treated at centralised facilities using enhanced processes. According to project projections, the system could remove up to about 85 per cent of PFAS at factory scale and roughly 80 per cent at municipal plant level.

The initiative is also testing improved monitoring and analytical methods to help operators measure PFAS concentrations more accurately and respond to fluctuations in discharge.

LIFE CASCADE does not alter EU legislation. Instead, it provides a technical model that aligns with broader regulatory trends towards stricter PFAS controls. It also reflects a shift towards shared responsibility between manufacturers and utilities as compliance requirements increase.

For water technology providers, the project highlights potential demand for integrated treatment systems. Textile producers and municipal operators are assessing solutions that balance performance with cost and long-term resilience.

Challenges remain, including the regeneration or disposal of spent activated carbon and the capital costs for smaller facilities. Even so, hybrid models such as LIFE CASCADE indicate how Europe’s textile sector may adapt to a tighter regulatory environment.