Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become one of the most persistent environmental challenges of the past decade. Often described as “forever chemicals,” they share a defining characteristic that also makes them so problematic: an exceptionally strong carbon–fluorine bond that resists natural degradation. For years, the focus has been on removing PFAS from drinking water after contamination occurs. Increasingly, however, attention is shifting upstream towards industrial hotspots where these chemicals are first released. That shift is not just strategic; it may be essential. Why PFAS removal matters more than ever PFAS are used across a wide range of industries, including textiles and food packaging, electronics manufacturing, and firefighting foams. Their durability makes them commercially valuable, but environmentally hazardous. Once released, PFAS accumulate in soil, groundwater, and human bodies. Conventional remediation methods struggle because many treatment technologies were not designed to deal with such chemically stable compounds. In fact, common approaches like air stripping or biological treatment are largely ineffective against PFAS due to their resistance to volatilisation and biodegradation. The consequence is long-term contamination that …