PFAS disclosure practices of Dutch listed companies: An exploratory study

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used chemicals increasingly linked to harmful effects on human health and the environment. Although considered a major global environmental threat and subject to growing regulatory scrutiny, PFAS are not explicitly addressed in sustainability reporting frameworks, and research on corporate PFAS reporting is lacking. This study examines PFAS disclosure in 432 annual reports from Dutch listed companies (2019–2024). PFAS reporting is rare: only 19% of firms (8% of reports) mentions PFAS, mainly in infrastructure, construction, and advanced manufacturing. Disclosures seldom provide metrics, or receive assurance, and in only 1 report (0.002% of reports) PFAS is explicitly identified as a material topic. Given the growing regulatory, litigation, and reputational landscape, it appears unlikely that PFAS would truly be immaterial for virtually all sample companies. Rather, the non-disclosure likely reflects methodological limitations, significant data gaps, and the absence of standardized, PFAS-specific disclosure requirement.