The Australian government announced on Thursday that it has launched legal action against 3M over contamination linked to firefighting foam supplied by the company that contained PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.” The government is seeking more than A$2 billion ($1.43 billion) in damages.
Officials said the lawsuit against the Minnesota-based chemicals manufacturer and its Australian subsidiary is the largest environmental compensation claim ever pursued by Australia, reflecting the long-term environmental, economic, and cultural impacts caused by the contamination.
“Make no mistake, this legal action against 3M is significant,” Attorney-General Michelle Rowland told reporters.
“The Commonwealth is seeking more than A$2 billion in damages to recover significant past and future expenses incurred in investigating and managing contamination resulting from the historical storage and use of this foam.”
The government said it used the firefighting foam at 28 defence bases nationwide and claimed that 3M had assured authorities the substance was safe to dispose of, biodegradable, and non-toxic.
However, according to Rowland, the company failed to disclose its own testing results, which allegedly revealed “significant adverse environmental effects” linked to the product’s use.
“3M has never manufactured PFAS in Australia and ceased sales of the products at issue in Australia around two decades ago,” the statement said.
“Despite this, the Department of Defence continued to use PFAS-containing firefighting foams for nearly two decades longer.”
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in products designed to resist heat, water, grease, and stains. Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” they do not naturally degrade in the environment, leading to growing concerns about their buildup in ecosystems, drinking water supplies, and the human body.
Studies have linked PFAS exposure to several health risks, including liver damage, reduced birth weight, and testicular cancer.
Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil said the department has already spent A$1.3 billion addressing the effects of the contamination, including A$408 million paid in legal settlements to impacted communities.
The department has also removed or treated more than 200,000 metric tons of contaminated soil and processed over 13 billion litres of polluted water.
“This is the most significant legal action undertaken by Commonwealth and Defence in living memory,” Khalil said.
“To put it plainly, we are taking on 3M on behalf of the Australian people and the Australians that are affected.”
3M has been hit with thousands of lawsuits related to PFAS contamination. In 2023, the company agreed to a $10.3 billion settlement with numerous U.S. public water systems to resolve claims tied to water pollution.
