Demir in conversation with 3M boss

Flemish minister of environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has a conversation today with 3M's CEO and chairman, Michael Roman about the PFOS contamination of his company in Antwerp. He does not agree with the conclusions of the parliamentary investigation commission PFOS-PFAS of last Monday.

In the final report of the parliamentary investigation committee PFOS-PFAS on Monday, the blame for the harmful PFOS/PFAS pollution was passed on to 3M. According to the commission, 3M 'violated its environmental duty of care on several occasions and over a long period of time'. 

Roman announced that he 'disagrees with the investigative committee's description of 3M's record of environmental management and operations.' He added that 3M has already taken significant measures to address PFAS-related issues in Belgium. He referred to investments in additional soil testing, in reducing PFAS discharges and in expanding sampling. 'Now it is important to find a way to solve these issues constructively and jointly,' Roman said.

Roman is coming to Belgium because 3M was declared in default by the Flemish government in September. At that time, Demir was already demanding that 3M would clean up the PFOS-contaminated land in and around Zwijndrecht. She also wants 3M to pay for all health costs and to provide biomonitoring. Her cabinet has a plan ready - if the talks flop - to file a lawsuit in the US. But first they want to hear what Roman has to say. 'Everything will be discussed,' the cabinet has been told.

Demir told the local residents in Zwijndrecht last Friday 'that there are good signals that 3M would like to compensate for all pollution'. To clean up its Belgian facility, Roman announced in September a €115 million investment to reduce the amount of PFAS in its wastewater, from current production. Critics say most of that would go to the plant itself rather than addressing pollution in the surrounding area. In 2018, 3M reached an amicable settlement of $850 million with the state of Minnesota, in a similar situation. 

© BELGA PHOTO - Illustration picture shows Flemish Minister of Environment, Energy, Tourism and Justice Zuhal Demir pictured during a plenary session of the Flemish Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday 16 March 2022.