Cases / Chemical pollution · Belgium · 2022–2023
3M agrees to pay 571 million euros for Zwijndrecht PFOS clean-up
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
3M agreed to pay the Flemish government 571 million euros to clean up PFOS pollution at Zwijndrecht, Belgium. 3M has appealed a Flemish decree governing cleanup of gardens, farmland, natural areas and waterways, so what is at stake for nature is PFOS in soil and water.
What?
3M agreed to pay the Flemish government 571 million euros to clean up PFOS pollution in Zwijndrecht (Belga News Agency, 2022). Belga News Agency
Where?
Zwijndrecht, Flanders, Belgium Belga News Agency
When?
Settlement reported in 2022 Belga News Agency
Who?
Gained
- Flemish government — 571 million euros payment toward the cleanup Belga News Agency
Lost
- 3M — Agreed to pay 571 million euros Belga News Agency
Harmed
None on recordWhy?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Settlement agreement with the Flemish government to pay for PFOS cleanup Belga News Agency
6 of 6 questions answered from the record
What happened
The record, in order.
In 2022 3M agreed to pay the Flemish government 571 million euros to clean up PFOS pollution at Zwijndrecht (Belga News Agency; Italpress).
In June 2023 3M appealed to the Council of State against a Flemish PFOS decree covering cleanup of gardens, farmland, natural areas and waterways, and the environment minister expressed regret.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
- 2023-06–Outcome not on record3M appeal against Flemish PFOS cleanup decreeCouncil of State · Administrative · 3M → Flemish government
3M appealed in June 2023 against the decree regulating PFOS cleanup of gardens, farmland, natural areas and waterways. The sources reviewed record no ruling.
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Court
- Unclear 3M appeal against Flemish PFOS cleanup decree: outcome not on record.
Record
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: 3M's original commitment was 120 million euros before the figure rose to 571 million.
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: 3M made no admission of liability in the 2022 agreement (Flemish government; VRT, 2022).
- None on record The sources reviewed do not give the area contaminated or the number of people affected in Zwijndrecht.
- Unclear No ruling on the appeal against the decree is recorded in the sources reviewed.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers
Press and investigations
- Chemical company 3M to pay 571 million eurosBelga News Agency · 2022
- Pfas, inaugurate opere per la nuova fornitura d'acquaItalpress · 2022-07
Connected cases
Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
- 3M agrees to pay US public water suppliers $10.3bn over PFAS United States · 2023
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: company; settling party
- 3M booked US$10.3bn charge for US public water PFAS settlement United States · 2023–2036
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: defendant; recorded the settlement charge
- 3M PFOS: internal evidence, EPA penalty and Minnesota settlement United States · 1979–2026
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: PFOS manufacturer and defendant
- Appeals court overturns PFAS blood-contamination class action against 3M United States · 2023
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: defendant named in the case
- Australian government settled PFAS claims at three defence bases and sued 3M Australia · 1988–2025
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: defendant in the Commonwealth suit
- PFAS insurance disputes (3M, Chemours, DuPont) United States · 2020–2026
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: Defendant in the AIG suit; policyholder
- PFAS water utility settlements by 3M, DuPont, Chemours and Corteva United States · 2023–2036
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: Defendant and settling party; PFAS manufacturer
- US tax deductibility of environmental settlements (IRC 162(f)) United States · 2017
- 3M (Company) — here: Company paying the settlement and appellant against the decree; there: Company that booked a PFAS settlement charge