Gore-Tex maker allegedly contaminated water in Maryland
Legal trouble comes as the cycling industry becomes increasingly aware of the dangers of forever chemicals
A new legal filing alleges that W.L. Gore & Associates, the makers of Gore-Tex and other products, contaminated water in Maryland in violation of federal environmental rules. Gore-Tex is a waterproof membrane commonly used in cycling products such as rain jackets from brands like Rapha, Castelli, and countless others in the broader outdoor gear space.
Lawyers for two Maryland residents filed a notice of intent to sue on Sept. 4, claiming that Gore has violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a federal law governing the disposal of hazardous waste. According to the filing, Gore allegedly emitted toxic chemicals from its plant in Maryland, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or forever chemicals.
“As a consequence of these manufacturing activities, large amounts of PFAS—forever chemicals—were released by Gore’s Cherry Hill plant into the surrounding area over a period of more than 20 years,” the document says.
The document says that surface water, residential well, and public water system samples collected in 2022 and 2023 show this contamination.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a myriad of health effects including cancer.
The residents seeking to sue live within 3.5 miles of the Gore plant, and claim to have suffered harm to their property, health, and mental well being. They seek compensation from Gore for these harms as well as for Gore to clean up its alleged damage to the environment, plus future monitoring, prevention, and legal fees.
The new case comes on the heels of an existing class action suit against Gore in Maryland. According to journalist Meg Carney, Gore denies the allegations made in both cases.
Why does this matter for cycling?
It’s unclear if the Maryland plant produced Gore-Tex specifically—Gore makes a variety of other products including medical devices—but the new legal trouble comes at a time when the broader outdoor industry is becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of forever chemicals. Both government and private industry have established regulations attempting to limit these chemicals in shops and supply chains.
In the case of cycling brands, Gore-Tex is synonymous with many popular apparel items from well-respected brands. There’s nothing wrong with owning a Gore-Tex jacket, but this legal action highlights how the parent company of this well-known technology may be causing damage to the environment and human health. For a deeper dive on the problems with Gore-Tex in waterproof cycling clothing specifically, check out this report from Cyclingnews.
Nearly every brand these days highlights their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, topics that are particularly relevant in the apparel space. There are no-doubt strong efforts being made, it’s a more complicated puzzle than just one company’s efforts. If Company X is considered the industry standard, is it truly ‘sustainable’ to be buying membranes from Gore?
Cycling is considered an environmentally friendly activity as well as one that allows riders to enjoy the beauty of nature. However, some products needed to enjoy these benefits may be harmful in themselves, so how do we square that?
Those are just a couple of the open questions that present themselves as nearly every industry—and specifically the cycling industry—wrestle with environmental sustainability and impact.
Ryan MTB will continue to provide reporting on this story and topic.
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