Milliken & Company offers non-PFAS turnout gear fabrics

Milliken & Company, a global leader in diversified manufacturing, has announced that it is the first textile manufacturer to provide non-PFAS materials for all three layers of firefighter turnout gear: the outer shell, thermal liner, and moisture barrier. By offering all three layers from a single U.S.-based supplier, Milliken enables garment manufacturers to test the fabrics as a unified system, ensuring faster production and delivery to firefighters.

“Milliken is proud to be the only U.S. manufacturer offering non-PFAS fabric for every layer of turnout gear, but more importantly, we’re proud that these fabrics exceed performance standards,” said Marcio Manique, Senior Vice President of Protective Fabrics at Milliken. “Our mission is to protect first responders without compromising health, protection, or comfort, and our certification results reflect that commitment.”

Milliken’s fabrics have exceeded expectations under the newly issued NFPA 1970-2025 standard, which was created with reduced performance criteria anticipating lower results from non-PFAS products. However, Milliken’s composites surpassed the stricter NFPA 1971-2018 standards during third-party testing conducted in November. Additionally, each layer of Milliken’s composites has received UL certification.

States like Massachusetts and Connecticut have already enacted bans on PFAS in firefighters’ protective gear starting in 2027. Milliken’s composites are currently the only high-performing, non-PFAS, non-halogenated flame-resistant options available in the market. The company eliminated PFAS from its fire service fabrics in 2021 and from its entire textile fibers and finishes portfolio by 2023.