The cost to society of PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals", has recently been estimated at $17.5 trillion annually. PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pose in fact a major environmental and health challenge due to their persistence in water, soil, and human bodies. Exposure to PFAS has been linked to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer, according to the European Environment Agency. Due to the growing awareness of their risks, startups are pioneering innovative solutions to detect, remove, and replace PFAS in industrial applications. PFAS have been in fact heavily used since the 1940s in items like waterproof clothes; non-stick cookware; in stain-resistant fabrics and carpets; some cosmetics; firefighting foams; fast-food packaging; household products like shampoo and dental floss… the list goes on. This mapping highlights the key startups tackling the PFAS crisis—those developing cutting-edge water and wastewater treatment (filtration technologies, bio-based remediation methods) and sustainable alternatives to PFAS-containing materials.