Winward backs Dutch PFAS class action against Chemours

Winward Litigation Finance is funding a major environmental class action in the Netherlands targeting chemical manufacturer Chemours over alleged emissions of PFAS, a group of so-called “forever chemicals,” from the company’s industrial plant in Dordrecht.

The claim is being brought by the PFAS Vrij Green Claim Foundation on behalf of residents living near the facility, which campaigners say has released PFAS compounds into the surrounding environment for years. The foundation has instructed Amsterdam-based law firm Kennedy Van der Laan to pursue the litigation in the Dutch courts.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large class of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products. They are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly in the environment. Health authorities and environmental researchers have linked exposure to certain PFAS compounds to elevated risks of cancer, thyroid disorders, immune system damage and fertility problems.

The Dutch action seeks both injunctive relief and damages. Claimants are asking the court to order Chemours to halt further PFAS emissions and to compensate residents for alleged environmental and health impacts tied to contamination near the Dordrecht facility.

Residents from ten municipalities in South Holland are eligible to participate in the claim, including those living in Papendrecht, Sliedrecht, Gorinchem and several neighboring communities. Organisers have launched an online registration portal to allow residents to join the action.

Jeremy Marshall, chief investment officer at Winward Litigation Finance, said PFAS contamination can have profound consequences for communities located near chemical production sites. Funding the claim, he said, allows affected residents to pursue accountability and potential compensation without bearing the financial burden of complex environmental litigation.

The case adds to a growing body of PFAS-related litigation worldwide as regulators, governments and private claimants seek to hold manufacturers responsible for alleged contamination linked to the chemicals. Environmental claims involving PFAS have produced multibillion-dollar settlements in the United States in recent years, and similar disputes are increasingly emerging across Europe.

Chemours, a U.S. chemical company spun out of DuPont in 2015 and listed on the NYSE, operates one of its largest European manufacturing sites in Dordrecht. The company has faced multiple legal challenges globally related to PFAS production and environmental contamination.