By Jamie Martin
PFAS contamination remains a major issue across Michigan. In spring 2025, new health screening rules revealed 98 water bodies with “Do Not Eat” advisories for fish due to PFOS exposure. Traditional firefighting foams are a leading source of PFAS contamination, threatening both firefighters and the environment.
SoyFoam is a new soy flour-based firefighting foam that solves this issue. Made of more than 70 percent biobased materials, it is biodegradable and certified under the USDA BioPreferred program. It contains no PFAS or fluorine, eliminating the cancer risks and long-term pollution linked to conventional foams.
The product has been approved by the National Fire Protection Association and has proven effective against Class B hydrocarbon fuels and Class A woodland fires. Designed to work with traditional equipment, SoyFoam requires no special handling.
The Michigan Soybean Committee and PK Foam Solutions recently hosted a demonstration in Stanton, Michigan, where local firefighters tested the product. “I was really impressed with the one percent solution and the amount of foam that it gave, then the three percent was even better. It places a great blanket out there. The PFAS and environmentally friendly aspect is a bonus to getting SoyFoam onto a truck. The non-carcinogen is really the huge bonus though that makes me really want to utilize this foam at our department,” said Brian Brasington, Chief of the Stanton Township Fire Department.
“This product is the only GreenScreen Certified Gold™ Fire Foam. This product is good for the environment, good for soybean farmers and good for firefighters. They’ve determined that PFAS causes cancer, and after battling bladder cancer for three years and being declared cancer-free just last week, I can say with confidence that this product is needed in the firefighting industry. SoyFoam contains no PFAS, meaning it won’t harm firefighters, farmers, or the environment,” said Patrick Butler, firefighter, cancer survivor, and leader of PK Foam Solutions.
For farmers, SoyFoam is equally significant. Each drum uses 2.5 bushels of soybeans, creating new demand and diversifying the soybean market. Such products strengthen the future of agriculture while supporting safe community practices.
SoyFoam demonstrates how agricultural innovation can replace harmful chemicals with safe, sustainable solutions.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: National