Norner launches PFAS screening tool for PPWR compliance
Key takeaways
- Norner has introduced a Total Organic Fluorine analysis tool to support PFAS screening and PPWR compliance across plastic packaging materials.
- The method uses Pyrolysis-GC/MS to measure organic fluorine directly in solid materials, helping distinguish PFAS-relevant signals from inorganic fluorine.
- Norner says the tool supports risk-based, cost-efficient testing for plastics, coatings, and products with unknown PFAS histories.
Norner has developed the Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) analysis tool to analyze Pyrolysis‑GC/MS and support PFAS screening for compliance with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
“Supporting the plastic packaging value chain in development, testing, and verification are key focus areas for Norner,” says Bavan Mylvaganam, PFAS expert at Norner. “Our establishment of a robust method for TOF and the ongoing development for PFAS target analysis comes at the right time for the implementation of PPWR.”
The PPWR requires the packaging industry to demonstrate that the materials it uses do not exceed PFAS‑related limits, even when the exact substances present are unknown, according to the industrial polymer R&D company based in Norway.
“PPWR is concerned with PFAS, which are organic fluorine, and therefore we focus on more selective and PFAS‑relevant analytical approaches, offering TOF analysis and PFAS target analysis to support defensible, risk-based decision making,” Norner explains.
Total Fluorine (TF) is already in use as a standardized initial screening tool, but it is said to detect organic as well as inorganic fluorine.
Detecting PFAS
TOF can measure organic fluorine, providing a “more relevant” indicator of potential PFAS presence compared to bulk fluorine measurements alone, says Norner.
The tool excludes inorganic fluorine, which is said to reduce “false reassurance”
and improve prioritization for further PFAS testing. If TOF is confirmed to be less than 50 ppm, the product is deemed compliant with PPWR.
Norner states that TOF is determined using Pyrolysis‑GC/MS. This can enable:
- Direct analysis of solid materials without solvent extraction;
- The screening of complex polymeric and composite materials;
- Fast turnaround times suitable for compliance and product development needs.
TOF can be used as a standalone screening tool or in combination with PFAS analysis. Its use is dependent on the regulatory context and customer needs.
Norner says its tool enables a risk‑based and cost‑efficient testing strategy, which avoids unnecessary advanced analysis and maintains regulatory robustness.
In terms of application areas, the TOF method is suitable for a range of materials, including plastics and polymer compounds, coatings, elastomers, and composites, as well as recycled materials and articles with unknown PFAS histories.
At PRSE 2026, Norner spoke to Packaging Insights about its latest recycling tech, AI, and decontamination innovations.
