3M Commits $7.35 Billion to Settle PFAS-Related Claims

3M Co. is committing $7.35 billion over nine years to settle litigation related to its use of chemicals known as PFAS. The company said the commitment would address almost all of the 115,000 to 120,000 personal injury claims that are being litigated both inside and outside a federal court in South Carolina. 3M will make a $50 million payment in 2026, and no payments in 2027, according to a statement. Approximately 20% of payments are due in the final two years, the company said. This schedule will “align to 3M’s remaining payment obligations for other legacy settlements,” according to the company. The deal advances a costly and lengthy effort by the maker of Post-it notes to resolve legal claims tied to its history making per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The class of thousands of chemicals were used to make a range of products including stain-proof textiles and foams that are used to put out fires at military bases and airports. The US Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that PFAS, which don’t naturally break down and persist in drinking water and soil, are connected to increased cancer risks. Plaintiffs have blamed the chemicals for their health issues, included kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease and ulcerative colitis. Payouts will vary among plaintiffs based on various factors. 3M shares rose 1.7% in late trading in New York. The stock has advanced 11% this year through Tuesday’s close, in line with the S&P 500 Index. Chief Executive Officer William Brown said in the statement that the settlement “substantially reduces litigation uncertainty.” The company has paid a steep price to deal with legal fallout from its manufacturing of PFAS, which it completely exited at the end of 2025. In 2023, 3M agreed to pay as much as $12.5 billion over 13 years to US public water suppliers across the US that detected the chemicals. Last year, 3M reached an agreement to resolve PFAS-related claims in New Jersey. The company recorded a pre-tax charge of about $285 million and said it would make payments over 25 years related to PFAS-related claims in the state. Before the personal injuries accord, Bloomberg Intelligence estimated the company’s legal overhang could be as much as $20 billion. 3M is still facing ongoing claims tied to contamination of water sources that could cost it as much as $15 billion to settle, BI estimates. Photo: Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America Topics Claims Numbers