Colorful reflections on rippling water

Navigating PFAS with communities

Learn how to strengthen public trust, improve risk communication and accelerate PFAS decision-making.

Lessons in trust, transparency and transformation


Learn how to strengthen public trust, improve risk communication and accelerate PFAS decision-making.

Is your PFAS communication undermining public trust?

Several hands holding up glasses of water at a dining table

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) investigations often stall not for lack of science, but due to anxiety, mistrust and confusion in affected communities. With regulations shifting across countries, states and provinces, even well intended updates can be perceived as inconsistent, eroding confidence and slowing action.

This report unpacks how to navigate the human side of PFAS with clarity and empathy, so technical work can proceed with community support.

What’s inside?

Two children standing and playing in the shallow water of a calm lakeshore surrounded by trees at sunset

Equip your team with engagement practices that build trust and accelerate action.

  • Best practices for community engagement in PFAS assessments
    Gain a clear understanding of the hurdles involved, so you can successfully engage communities.
  • A plan for proactive community engagement
    Move from understanding the challenges to implementing a tactical plan for proactive and empathetic engagement.
  • The evolving and complex regulatory landscape of PFAS
    Learn how differing global, national and regional standards shape expectations, so you can communicate regulatory decisions with clarity and credibility.
  • Charting a path forward
    Access a practical roadmap for building and maintaining trust with affected communities.
Download the report
“It’s important to recognise that social licence is an outcome earned within the community. A social licence, or ‘social licence to operate,’ reflects the trust, confidence and support that stakeholders give to an organisation. It’s not a formal permit but is earned through active involvement, transparency and addressing community concerns. Effective engagement involves creating awareness, building relationships and safeguarding procedural and distributional fairness.”
Sharon Sebastian, Executive Advisor, Business Advisory
“When engaging communities on PFAS, it’s not enough to inform; we must involve them directly, consistently aiming to understand and consider their concerns and aspirations. Early, honest and culturally-aware engagement is the foundation of any successful PFAS community response.”
Carla Pignatelli, Service Line Leader, APAC Engagement and Communication

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