> Gore is committing to a "goal for being free of PFCs of Environmental Concern." That doesn't affect the ePTFE membrane though because, according to the brand, ePTFE "is inert, insoluble in water, extremely stable and not biodegradable. Therefore, it does not degrade to become a source of PFCs of Environmental Concern."
Gore continuation: biodegradable:degradeable ::(->) unbiodegradable:undegradeable
It's more of a case that they as a business have no way of making money without this pollutant not that the pollutant itself is not an issue.
I have worn plenty of boots with Gore-Tex reinforced regions and they most definitely break down and become frail and brittle given enough kilometers of trekking.
I'm honestly not convinced how much good Gore-Tex does in a boot. I've bought boots with Gore-Tex because I liked them for other reasons but I'm not sure they were appreciably more water resistant than those that were "waterproof." Certainly my heavy leather boots (or my winter books that have rubber or whatever on the lower part of the boot) are more resistant.
It's also a great deal less effective for footwear in my experience. However, it can be a reasonable tradeoff if you don't want to wear a heavy boot for 3-season hiking.
Gore continuation: biodegradable:degradeable ::(->) unbiodegradable:undegradeable