Groupe SEB Faces Legal Threat Over PFAS Use in Tefal Cookware

ClientEarth, Générations Futures, and Notre Affaire à Tous argue that the company must replace Teflon coatings with safer alternatives like ceramic or cast iron. While Groupe SEB maintains that its products meet World Health Organization standards for food safety, the NGOs point to recent findings from the EU’s Chemical Agency. Research indicates that scratched or overheated non-stick surfaces can release PFAS particles, while manufacturing processes continue to contaminate soil and groundwater.

Legal experts suggest this move signals a broader shift in corporate accountability. Hélène Duguy, a lawyer for ClientEarth, noted that upcoming European regulations will soon mandate that companies rigorously address the environmental impact of their operations. By pushing for a change in policy now, the plaintiffs hope to establish a precedent for industrial compliance before the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence directive takes full effect in 2028. Groupe SEB has not yet provided a formal response to the legal notice.