PFAS and the Miteni trial: towards a new shared responsibility?
The summer of 2025 marked a historic moment in the fight against PFAS pollution.
The Vicenza-based chemical company Miteni was sentenced at first instance to a total of 141 years in prison and a massive compensation of 58 million euros in favor of the Ministry of the Environment, plus further substantial sums to be paid to local authorities. A ruling that recognized the full responsibility of the company's managers, accused of having contaminated an area of more than 100 km², with about 300,000 inhabitants affected, polluting the second largest aquifer in Europe.
The verdict comes after decades of reporting, four years of trial, 130 hearings and about 300 civil parties involved, and marks a decisive step towards a general awareness – both by citizens and companies – of the risks and hazards of PFAS.
A judgment that is not only punitive: it also establishes the obligation of environmental restoration, for which a technical and administrative working group has already been set up.
What are PFAS?
So, what are PFAS?
PFAS, an acronym for perfluorinated alkylated substances, were created in the 1940s as "synthetic" chemical compounds, soon becoming popular in many industrial sectors due to their resistance to degradation, thanks to the strong bonds between fluorine and carbon atoms.
PFAS: what are they and where are they found? (Umberto Veronesi Foundation)
An environmental and health emergency
Widely used in the production of non-stick coatings (such as Teflon), waterproof technical fabrics, fire-fighting foams, food packaging, stain-resistant products and in numerous industrial processes, PFAS owe their popularity to their extraordinary resistance properties.
A characteristic that also represents their greatest drawback: practically indestructible, once dispersed, PFAS remain in water, soil and living organisms for a long time, with potentially serious consequences for human health and the environment.
Miteni and PFAS ruling, a historic verdict
The recent conviction of the Miteni leadership represents an major step: it is the first case in Italy, and among the first in Europe, in which responsibility for water poisoning and malicious environmental disaster is clearly and criminally recognized.
A ruling that not only marks the history of environmental law, but also turns the spotlight on the need to change habits and reduce exposure to these harmful substances.
Cooking without PFAS, the first step to taking care of yourself
In this instance, everyday choices make a difference.
Primecook has always adopted an eco & human friendly approach: all the potsand pans of the Smeralda Line are equipped with the innovative Ecoshield, the only non-stick coating without PFAS, PTFE, PFOA and nickel. An eco-friendly and safe solution, made even more effective by Sol-gel technology, which guarantees smooth, resistant and durable surfaces.
Read also: Cookingwithout PFAS: why it's important and how to protect yourself
