Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Chemical pollution · United States · 2015–2025

DuPont, Chemours and Corteva: PFAS cost-sharing and water-system settlement

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 8 insufficient · 1 not measured · 5 disputed · 2 unclear See the gaps

In 2021 DuPont, Corteva and Chemours agreed to share the costs of legacy PFAS claims. In 2023 the three companies agreed to a US$1.185 billion fund for US public water systems, and further settlements with Ohio and New Jersey followed. The companies deny the allegations.

US$1.185 bnFund for US public water systems, June 2023 (Chemours, DuPont and Corteva combined)
As stated in the companies' announcement. The companies deny the allegations.

Status As of August 2025: New Jersey settlement of US$875m over 25 years announced; final approval of that settlement and of the insurance memorandum is not confirmed, and Chemours had sent four demands for arbitration to insurers.

What?
DuPont, Corteva and Chemours agreed to share the costs of legacy PFAS claims (2021) and to a US$1.185 billion fund for US public water systems (2023); settlements with Ohio (2023) and New Jersey (2025) followed. DuPont
Where?
United States: Delaware (Chemours v DuPont), Ohio, New Jersey and US public water systems.
When?
2015 separation; February 2017, January 2021, June 2023 and August 2025 agreements. DuPont (investor relations)
Who?
Gained
Lost
  • Chemours — Bears half of the 2021 cost sharing and 50% of the New Jersey settlement. Chemours (SEC filing)
Harmed
  • US public water systems — Claimants in the June 2023 settlement. DuPont
  • Water customers — The American Water Works Association said treatment costs would fall largely on them.
Why?
The agreements resolved legacy PFAS claims; the companies deny the allegations. DuPont (investor relations)
How?
Cost sharing capped at US$4 billion, an escrow account, a fund for water systems and settlements with two states; Chemours has also assigned insurance rights and sent arbitration demands to insurers. Chemours (SEC filing)
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

DuPont separated Chemours in 2015. Chemours later alleged that, in the separation, DuPont understated its PFAS liability by US$1 billion to US$2 billion and received a dividend of US$3.9 billion. A report headed "Round one to DuPont over Chemours in legal battle" and a 17 December 2020 item headed "Court upholds dismissal of Chemours lawsuit against DuPont" describe the dispute between the two companies.

On 13 February 2017 DuPont and Chemours settled about 3,550 personal-injury suits for about US$670.7 million, split 50/50, with no admission of wrongdoing.

On 22 January 2021 DuPont, Corteva and Chemours announced an agreement on legacy PFAS claims. It provides for cost sharing up to US$4 billion over at most 20 years: half borne by Chemours, half by DuPont and Corteva, whose share is capped at US$2 billion. An escrow account of up to US$1 billion is to be funded until 2028.

On 2 June 2023 the three companies agreed to a US$1.185 billion fund for US public water systems. The companies deny the allegations. A judge's approval of the settlement was reported on 16 February 2024. In November or December 2023 an Ohio settlement of US$110 million was reached, of which DuPont's share was about US$39 million.

In August 2025 a settlement with New Jersey was announced: US$875 million in cash over 25 years, with shares of 50% Chemours, 35.5% DuPont and 14.5% Corteva, according to Chemours' filing. In the same month Chemours agreed to assign certain PFAS insurance rights in return for US$150 million. Chemours also reported a US$45 million settlement with one insurance carrier in July 2024 and four demands for arbitration against other carriers since April 2025.

  1. 2015DuPont separates Chemours
  2. 201713 February: about 3,550 personal-injury suits settled for about US$670.7m, split 50/50; no admission of wrongdoing
  3. 202017 December: PFAS Project item headed "Court upholds dismissal of Chemours lawsuit against DuPont"
  4. 202122 January: DuPont, Corteva and Chemours announce legacy PFAS cost-sharing agreement (up to US$4bn, at most 20 years, escrow up to US$1bn)
  5. 20232 June: US$1.185bn fund for US public water systems; November/December: Ohio settlement of US$110m
  6. 202416 February: judge's approval of the water-systems settlement reported; July: US$45m settlement with one insurance carrier (Chemours)
  7. 2025April onward: four demands for arbitration against noticed insurers (Chemours); August: New Jersey settlement of US$875m over 25 years, and a PFAS insurance memorandum assigning rights for US$150m

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“In July 2024, a $45 settlement agreement was reached… with one of the insurance carriers”

“Since April 2025, four Demands for Arbitration have been sent to additional noticed insurance carriers.”

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

How much PFAS liability did the 2015 separation leave with Chemours, and was it fairly estimated?
Company or project
Chemours

Alleged that DuPont understated its PFAS liability by US$1 billion to US$2 billion and received a dividend of US$3.9 billion at the 2015 separation.

Speciality Chemicals Magazine
Courts
Delaware court, as reported by PFAS Project

A 17 December 2020 item was headed "Court upholds dismissal of Chemours lawsuit against DuPont".

PFAS Project
How large is the August 2025 New Jersey settlement?
Company or project
Chemours (Form 8-K)

US$875 million in cash over 25 years, about US$500 million in present value at an 8% discount; shares 50% Chemours, 35.5% DuPont, 14.5% Corteva.

Chemours (SEC filing)
Press and investigations
WHYY

Reported it as about US$2 billion in total.

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • The June 2023 agreement was announced by DuPont as a comprehensive PFAS settlement with US water systems.
    DuPont · DuPont
  • The January 2021 agreement was announced as a resolution of legacy PFAS claims.
    DuPont, Corteva and Chemours · DuPont (investor relations)

Recorded

  • 13 February 2017: DuPont and Chemours settled about 3,550 personal-injury cases for US$670.7 million, covering "all claims, both decided and still pending", with no admission of liability.
    CHEManager
  • January 2021: cost sharing for legacy PFAS claims up to US$4 billion over at most 20 years, split 50/50 between Chemours and DuPont with Corteva; escrow of up to US$1 billion funded to 2028.
    Chemours (SEC filing)
  • 2 June 2023: US$1.185 billion fund for US public water systems from Chemours, DuPont and Corteva. The companies deny the allegations.
    DuPont
  • August 2025, New Jersey: US$875 million in cash over 25 years; shares 50% Chemours, 35.5% DuPont, 14.5% Corteva; funding for the clean-up of four sites secured by a surety bond.
    Chemours (SEC filing)
  • Chemours received about US$23 million and booked a US$23 million gain on a July 2024 settlement with one insurer. Noticed policies not yet paid have policy limits totalling US$750 million.
    Chemours (SEC filing)
  • The American Water Works Association said PFOA/PFOS treatment would cost more than US$3.8 billion a year and that the burden would fall on customers.

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

Not published
No figure published.

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
Currency: USD · Window: 2017–2025. All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • dupont (June 2023): DuPont, Chemours and Corteva deny the allegations in the claims settled by the June 2023 water-systems fund. · DuPont
  • dupont (February 2017): DuPont and Chemours settled the 2017 personal-injury cases with no admission of wrongdoing. · The Edge Malaysia
  • chemours (FY2025): Reported that it received about US$23m from an insurer in 2024 and has sent four demands for arbitration to other noticed insurers since April 2025. · Chemours (SEC filing)

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

  1. 2020-12Dismissed
    Chemours v DuPont over the 2015 separation
    Delaware (court as named in the record) · Civil · Chemours → DuPont

    Chemours alleged that DuPont understated its PFAS liability by US$1 billion to US$2 billion and received a US$3.9 billion dividend. The record dates the dispute to 2019–2020 and reports it as sent to arbitration; a PFAS Project item of 17 December 2020 was headed "Court upholds dismissal of Chemours lawsuit against DuPont". PFAS Project

  2. 2017-02-13Settled$670.7m about US$670.7m, split 50/50 between DuPont and Chemours
    C8 personal-injury litigation (Ohio multidistrict litigation)
    Ohio multidistrict litigation (as described in the record) · Civil · About 3,550 personal-injury plaintiffs → DuPont and Chemours

    Settled with no admission of liability, covering all claims, both decided and still pending. In one earlier verdict (Vigneron, testicular cancer), a jury awarded US$2 million compensatory (December 2016) and US$10.5 million punitive (January 2017); the record gives US$19.7 million as the total across three verdicts. CHEManager

  3. 2023-06-02Settled$1.19bn US$1.185bn fund; amounts in millions
    US public water systems PFAS settlement (Chemours, DuPont, Corteva)
    US court (a judge's approval was reported on 16 February 2024; court not named in the record) · Civil · US public water systems → Chemours, DuPont and Corteva

    The companies agreed to a US$1.185 billion fund on 2 June 2023 and deny the allegations. DuPont

  4. 2023-12Settled$110m US$110m; DuPont's share about US$39m
    Ohio PFAS settlement
    State of Ohio (forum not named in the record) · Civil · State of Ohio → DuPont, Chemours and Corteva

    Settlement of US$110 million in November or December 2023, of which DuPont's share was about US$39 million. The January 2021 announcement recorded an Ohio figure of US$83 million.

  5. 2025-08Ongoing$875m US$875m in cash over 25 years
    New Jersey PFAS settlement
    New Jersey (forum not named in the record) · Civil · State of New Jersey → Chemours, DuPont and Corteva

    Announced in August 2025: US$875 million over 25 years (about US$500 million in present value at an 8% discount, per the company's notice), shares 50% Chemours, 35.5% DuPont and 14.5% Corteva, with funding for the clean-up of four sites secured by a surety bond. Final approval is not confirmed in the record. Chemours (SEC filing)

Insurers

  1. 2024No policy found$45m US$45m settlement; about US$23m received
    One unnamed insurance carrier → Chemours

    In July 2024 Chemours reached a US$45 million settlement with one insurance carrier. It received about US$23 million and booked a US$23 million gain. Chemours (SEC filing)

  2. 2025In litigation$750m policy limits of noticed policies not yet paid; amounts in millions
    Additional noticed insurance carriers → Chemours

    Since April 2025 four demands for arbitration have been sent to additional noticed carriers. The noticed policies not yet paid have policy limits totalling US$750 million. Chemours (SEC filing)

  3. 2025No policy found$150m consideration for the assigned rights
    Insurers under PFAS policies (rights assigned) → Chemours

    A PFAS insurance memorandum of understanding of August 2025, tied to the New Jersey settlement, has Chemours assign certain PFAS insurance rights in return for US$150 million of consideration. Chemours (SEC filing)

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Fund for US public water systems (2023)
US$1.185bn
Chemours, DuPont and Corteva combined; the companies deny the allegations
Legacy PFAS cost-sharing cap (2021)
Up to US$4bn
Over at most 20 years; escrow of up to US$1bn
New Jersey settlement (2025)
US$875m
Cash over 25 years, per Chemours' filing; other reports give a larger total

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Case pending / contested

Nature

  • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

Insurers

  • Unclear One unnamed insurance carrier: no decision on record.
  • Unclear Insurers under PFAS policies (rights assigned): no decision on record.

Figures

  • Insufficient Fund share chemours: Reported but not independently verified.
  • Insufficient Fund share dupont: Reported but not independently verified.
  • Insufficient Fund share corteva: Reported but not independently verified.

Accounts

  • Disputed How much PFAS liability did the 2015 separation leave with Chemours, and was it fairly estimated?
  • Disputed How large is the August 2025 New Jersey settlement?

Record

  • Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: the split of the US$1.185bn fund as about US$592m Chemours, about US$400m DuPont and about US$193m Corteva.
  • Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that Chemours' Delaware complaint said it received 19% of DuPont's business lines but two-thirds of its environmental liabilities and 90% of its lawsuits, and called DuPont's estimates "systematically and extraordinarily wrong"; the page cited for this could not be opened.
  • Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the arbitration referral of the Chemours v DuPont dispute.
  • Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: that personal-injury claims and states' natural-resource claims are outside the scope of the 2023 water-systems settlement.
  • Insufficient Reported but not independently verified: American Water Works Association estimates of US$37.1bn to US$48.3bn over five years for PFAS treatment, against an EPA estimate of US$1.5bn a year.
  • Disputed Conflicting figures: the 2017 personal-injury settlement is given as US$670.7m, about US$671m and US$671.7m in different records.
  • Disputed Conflicting figures: the dividend at the 2015 separation is given as US$3.9bn in one record and about US$4bn in another.
  • Disputed Conflicting figures: the New Jersey settlement is US$875m in cash over 25 years (about US$500m present value at an 8% discount, per the company's notice); WHYY reported it as about US$2bn in total including remediation funding of up to US$1.2bn and a US$475m reserve fund.
  • None on record The 2017 and 2023 settlement filings reviewed do not mention insurance, and no documented coverage denial for DuPont or Chemours was found.
  • None on record The identity of the insurer in Chemours' US$45 million settlement is not given.
  • None on record A Simpson Thacher update of November 2025 describes the DuPont/Chemours insurance dispute as a California fraudulent-transfer claim over PFAS insurance rights; the parties and status are not given in the record.

Did the harm stop?

The record reviewed gives no end date for the companies' PFAS releases; the agreements concern past contamination and claims.

Who paid?

The three companies pay under the 2021, 2023 and 2025 agreements: Chemours bears half of the cost sharing, and DuPont and Corteva together are capped at US$2 billion. The American Water Works Association said the remaining treatment costs fall largely on water customers.

Sources

Voices on record: ✓ Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers

Company or project

  3. Chemours Form 8-K (current report)
    Chemours (SEC filing) · 2025-08-04
  4. Chemours annual report, Form 10-K for FY2025
    Chemours (SEC filing) · 2025-12-31

Press and investigations

  1. Round one to DuPont over Chemours in legal battle
    Speciality Chemicals Magazine ·
  5. Vincent man wins $10.5M in C8 case
    The Marietta Times · 2017-01
  6. PFAS litigation and insurance coverage update, November 2025
    Simpson Thacher (stblaw.com) · 2025-11-21

Communities and civil society

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
Terms used on this page

Science and environment

PFOA (C8) and PFAS
PFAS are a large family of human-made chemicals that persist in the environment and the body; PFOA, also called C8, is one of them and was used to make Teflon.

Law and courts

Arbitration
A private dispute process in which an appointed arbitrator, instead of a court, decides the case.

Bonds and banking

Delaware, Guernsey, Cayman Islands
Jurisdictions widely used to register companies, funds and accounts for legal, confidentiality and tax reasons.

Institutions

EPA
The US Environmental Protection Agency.
SEC
The US Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates securities markets and what companies tell investors.
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