Per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) possess a unique combination of properties—such as exceptional water and oil repellency, high thermal and chemical stability, pronounced oxygen affinity, and effective surfactant behavior—that have enabled their widespread use across industrial applications and consumer products since the 1940s. However, increasing concern over their persistence and potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment has prompted regulatory action. In 2020, the European Union adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/784 to restrict the manufacture and use of persistent organic pollutants, specifically limiting concentrations of PFOA, its salts, and related compounds to a maximum of 1 mg/kg in substances that meet the PFAS definition and are incorporated into consumer products [1].

Given the high persistence of PFAS and significant knowledge gaps regarding the properties, uses, and toxicological profiles of many PFAS currently in use, there is growing consensus that their production and application should be significantly reduced. This drives the need to substitute hazardous chemicals—particularly in consumer-facing applications—with safer, more sustainable alternatives. Developing PFAS‑free coatings that deliver equivalent performance while minimizing environmental impacts across their life cycle remains a major challenge.

The objective of this work is to develop novel bio‑based coatings for the textile and packaging sectors that provide water and oil repellency comparable to PFAS‑based formulations. The new coatings are synthesized from biomass‑derived resources using an environmentally friendly polymerization process. Process parameters and their influence on final material properties were systematically evaluated, enabling the optimization of coatings tailored to textile and packaging applications.