Some films spark conversations long after the credits roll, and Dark Waters is absolutely one of them. A few of our team watched it again recently, and it reminded us just how instrumental Dark Waters was in shaping the early days of our community. Even now – roughly seven years on from its release – it still sparks new conversations. The kind that make you pause, rethink the familiar, and understand why so many of us took our first steps into low tox living.
On the surface, it’s a legal thriller. But underneath that, it’s the true story of how Teflon, PFOA and a little-known chemical called C-8 ended up in places they were never meant to be – and how long it took for anyone outside the industry to understand what was happening.
Released in 2019 and starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway, Dark Waters isn’t a documentary. But it’s based on a real legal case that uncovered decades of corporate misconduct involving materials found in everyday cookware and household items.
And while Hollywood certainly gave the story a larger platform, the truth is… it shouldn’t take a blockbuster with an A-list cast for something this serious to be heard.
What PFOA and C-8 actually are
Without going too deep into chemistry, here’s the simplest explanation:
- PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) is a synthetic compound used for decades to create non-stick, waterproof and heat-resistant surfaces – including Teflon.
- C-8 is the industry nickname for this chemical.
It was never meant to enter our soil, water or bodies… yet it did. PFOA is nicknamed a “forever chemical” because it doesn’t break down easily and can stay in the environment (and bloodstream) for extremely long periods.
And that’s where the film hits a nerve – not because the chemistry is complicated, but because hardly anyone outside the industry knew what these ingredients even were.
The film shows, through a legal lens, how a chemical like this became widespread without any real testing in place, other than brands performing their own ‘self-regulation’. And that’s the part that hits hardest. Not the science. The silence.
How the real case came to light
The events in the film follow environmental attorney Rob Bilott, whose 20-year legal battle eventually revealed that DuPont had known about the risks of C-8/PFOA for decades. His court case pulled thousands of pages of internal documents into the public eye.
The legal fight eventually led to:
- one of the largest EPA fines in history
- a scientific panel that confirmed health links
- a massive settlement for affected residents
- global awareness about “forever chemicals”
And still, the most striking part is this: It took a single lawyer, a single farmer, and later a Hollywood film to shine a light on something many people never even knew existed.
That reality – not the legal drama – is what stays with you. You can read more about the case here.
Corporate gaslighting in real life (and why the film hits a nerve)
One of the subtler themes in Dark Waters is gaslighting – not in the dramatic sense, but in the everyday way large corporations sometimes dismiss concerns, minimise risks or bury information in technical jargon that we ‘regular families’ could never reasonably uncover.
The message is simple. When companies tell you “everything is fine,” it’s okay to ask who benefits from you believing that. The scene in the movie with lawyer Robert Bilott (played by Ruffalo), surrounded by hundreds of boxes of hidden documentation, is quite an eye-opener.
Most of us don’t question things because we’re paranoid; we question things because we’re paying attention or because we’ve experienced a reaction. And that’s not unreasonable – it’s responsible.
Why Dark Waters is a great starting point if you’re low tox curious
Something we hear a lot is, “I’m interested in low tox, I’m just not sure where to begin.” And honestly, we get it – the internet is full of conflicting advice, and it can feel like you need a science degree just to choose a frying pan.
What we liked about Dark Waters is that it cuts through all of that. Not with instructions, not with a checklist, but with a story that makes you stop for a second and think, “Hang on… I’ve never actually questioned that before.”
You don’t need to understand chemical names or regulations to follow the film. The human side of the story does the work. It’s also one of those movies you can recommend to friends who are curious but don’t know where to start – it opens the door without pushing anyone through it.
And if Hollywood has one unexpected superpower, it’s turning complicated issues into something most of us ‘regular people’ can actually follow without feeling overwhelmed.
This isn’t about fear or cutting things out of your life. It’s about paying attention, asking questions and choosing things that feel good for your family – not because someone told you to, but because it makes sense.
Why we chose stainless steel (and why we’re still so glad we did)
Watching the film reminded us of something we’d already been leaning into for a long time: materials matter. They matter quietly, every day, in all the small ways we use them.
For us, stainless steel ticked the boxes that genuinely matter in a busy family home. It’s:
- dishwasher friendly
- incredibly durable
- not coated in anything that can flake or peel
- reliable under high heat
- easy to look after
- one of the most trusted materials for food contact
But the real reason we chose it wasn’t about what we wanted to avoid – it was about what we wanted families to feel confident using. Bakeware that lasts. Bakeware you don’t have to second-guess. Bakeware that doesn’t quietly age in ways you can’t see.
Sure, we could have gone with carbon steel, titanium, or layered coatings (there are some very trendy ones out there). But we kept coming back to the same thought: simple things tend to age better.
And after watching Dark Waters, that instinct felt even more justified.
The important message behind it all
Whether you end up watching Dark Waters or decide it’s not your thing, the heart of the story is pretty simple: paying attention matters. Not in a dramatic, overhaul-your-life way – just in the small, steady, human way most real change begins.
Maybe this sparks a thought or two about the things you use every day. Maybe it doesn’t, and that’s completely fine. We all move through different seasons, and our choices shift with them.
But if a film, a conversation, a late-night scroll or even a gut feeling nudges you to look a little closer at something in your home… let it. You don’t have to act on it straight away. Sometimes the noticing is enough to set things in motion.
Here’s to the stories that stay with us. The slower moments that make space for reflection. And the reminder that low tox living isn’t about getting everything perfect – it’s about becoming more aware, at your own pace, in your own way.
Find out where to watch Dark Waters to add it to your watch list, and bring a little low tox into your kitchen.
