PFAS in school uniforms - how to avoid them?

[7Worfs]

I’ve been vaguely aware of PFAS chemicals for a while, but only now did I find out they are used on school uniforms to make them stain resistant (first time I’ve had to buy - I have a preschooler).

I spent the day reading up on PFAS and suffice to say, they don’t belong on household items, let alone rubbing on children’s skin for 40 hours a week.

To make fabric stain-, water-, heat-resistant, these near indestructible chemicals are used. They are everywhere - found in our water and even in umbilical cords - getting into our children before they are even born.

Some brands have pledged to get rid of PFAS (Adidas and Nike caved in after campaigning).

My questions to you are:

1. Are you aware of any places that sell uniforms without PFAS (not labelled stain-resistant)?
2. What can we do to get companies to stop using PFAS at least in school uniforms? My MP is a dumb fuck so writing to him is a non-starter; are there any organisations who would want to lead on this?

But day clothes and Halloween costumes are not treated with fire retardants, so it just goes to show that the decision was based on a finger in the air…

No it shows what a danger fire is, so if you are asleep and have to get out of a house you have only realised is on fire when the smoke alarm goes off....

Costumes are regarded as toys and are therefore subject to different flammability standards. In addition, due to the difference between being able to drop a toy that's on fire but having to wear a blazing costume, UK costumes have even more stringent requirements voluntarily.

The decision to set regulations for nightwear was based upon looking at the circumstances around children dying and suffering horrific injuries - and they were most likely for it to happen when wearing nightwear in the home.

This sort of stuff isn't done for shits and giggles, it's done on the basis of solid data, accident investigations and inquest findings.