Swedish electric car company Polestar has said it will maintain its goal to phase out hazardous chemicals such as PFAS and SVHCs across its products despite the challenges posed by the lack of REACH reform.
On 27 April, Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said that "now is not the time to open REACH", confirming that the EU executive would step back from a revision of the union’s flagship chemicals legislation.
Polestar, which has long supported a stronger REACH legislation as part of its collaboration with the ChemSec Business Group, continued to advocate for the reform in its latest sustainability report, published one day after Roswall’s comments.
Sofia Andersson, Polestar’s circular lead, told Chemical Watch News & Insight that while the REACH revision has been dropped, the risks associated with hazardous substances remain unchanged. While the lack of stronger regulatory momentum makes progress more challenging, she said, the company remains ambitious in its objective to phase out hazardous chemicals.
"At the same time, the existing REACH framework provides a solid foundation, and we hope that the upcoming PFAS restriction will be an important step in strengthening regulatory control and supporting real progress," she said.
Addressing SVHCs and PFAS
In its annual sustainability report, Polestar said it observed a reduction in the amount of SVHCs from its cars from 998 tonnes in 2024 to 915 tonnes in 2025, despite higher sales. However, the company did not provide an explanation for the reduction, saying it is still assessing and investigating the drivers behind it.
The company added that it eliminated the use of chemical products containing SVHCs at its workshops and research and development facilities, exceeding its 25% reduction goal this year.
Polestar has also maintained its call for broader industry collaboration to facilitate the phasing out of PFAS in the automotive sector and to identify suitable, safer alternatives. "The use of PFAS presents financial risks, as they are linked with increased regulatory and reputational risks and obligations in various global markets," it said.
But due to the lack of substitutes for certain uses, Polestar said it cannot provide a time-bound target to phase out PFAS yet. "However, we remain committed to phasing out the use of these substances," the company said.