Perfluorooctanoic Acid, or PFOA, has been used in the garment industry for decades as part of the waterproofing treatments used on technical outerwear. Whenever you see a "DWR" coating in a list of product features, chances are this chemical was used in the manufacturing process. Having been found throughout nature in various quantities, this substance has been deemed potentially hazardous to the environment by the EPA. The EPA has since placed a ban on the chemical, effective beginning in 2015, in an attempt to eliminate its use in clothing and outerwear. Many brands, including Bonfire, are showing their devotion to environmental responsibility by removing the substance from their products prior to the ban taking effect.