Foundation files lawsuit to force Chemours to halt PFAS emissions

The foundation PFAS Vrij Green Claim is preparing a new lawsuit against chemical manufacturer Chemours in Dordrecht on behalf of nearby residents. The group is asking the court to order the company to halt PFAS emissions immediately and to award compensation to residents for what it calls “damage to their living environment.” The action targets people living in municipalities across the southern part of Zuid-Holland, particularly around Dordrecht.

PFAS Vrij will summon Chemours before a civil court. “We are responding to a need felt by many people to take action themselves,” said chairman Ben Knüppe. “We don’t want to wait for governments or for the Public Prosecution Service (OM) to take action. So far, Chemours has not been deterred by anything. That makes going to court the obvious step.”

Knüppe added that global awareness about the dangers of PFAS is increasing, but said the situation in the Drechtsteden remains “a disgrace.”

The chemical manufacturer Chemours has faced repeated criticism for releasing PFAS, a group of chemicals associated with several health risks, including cancer.

In 2023, attorney Bénédicte Ficq submitted a criminal complaint to the OM on behalf of roughly 2,400 residents, accusing the company of discharging these substances. Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation later that year, which also considers whether executives from Chemours and its predecessor DuPont can be held personally accountable.

The upcoming legal expenses for PFAS Vrij will be financed by litigation funder Winward. Chairman Ben Knüppe says the backing is needed to give the foundation enough financial capacity. The Dordrecht resident expects the case, once filed, to become a long and complex legal battle.

The organization declined to estimate how many residents might join the case, but says it aims to demonstrate strong backing in court. People who want to participate can sign up online. The group is partnering with Green Claim, which earlier pursued legal cases over diesel cars fitted with so-called emissions cheating software.