Texas probes Lululemon chemicals

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said on April 13 that he has opened an investigation into whether Lululemon’s activewear contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, often called “forever chemicals.” (texasattorneygeneral.gov) Paxton said his office will examine Lululemon’s testing protocols, restricted substances list and supply-chain practices, and whether the company’s marketing created expectations that its apparel would not contain PFAS. (cnbc.com) PFAS are a large class of man-made chemicals used in products that repel water, stains or oil, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency says they break down very slowly and are linked to harmful health effects. (epa.gov) Lululemon has told news outlets it stopped using intentionally added PFAS in its products in early 2024 and is cooperating with the Texas inquiry, while its October 2025 restricted substances list includes a PFAS appendix and says banned or restricted substances apply across apparel, accessories and footwear. (msn.com) (corporate.lululemon.com) The case lands as clothing brands face tighter state rules on PFAS in textiles. California began banning new textile articles with regulated PFAS on January 1, 2025, and New York’s ban on intentionally added PFAS in apparel also took effect on January 1, 2025. (arb.ca.gov) (dec.ny.gov) Paxton’s office has pursued PFAS cases before. In 2024, he sued 3M and DuPont, accusing the companies of misrepresenting the safety of PFAS-based products sold in Texas. (texasattorneygeneral.gov) Lululemon is entering the probe during a difficult stretch for the business. Its shares were about $163.59 on April 13, down nearly 22 percent for 2026, according to CNBC’s market report. (cnbc.com) The investigation does not allege a violation yet, but it puts one of the biggest names in athletic apparel under formal scrutiny over what is in its fabrics and what shoppers were told about them. (texasattorneygeneral.gov)