On November 14, 2018, the U.S. non-profit organization Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SCHF) published its third annual ranking of major retail companies’ efforts to eliminate toxic chemicals from their products and packaging. The annual retailer report card is part of SCHF’s Mind the Store campaign (FPF reported).
The 2018 edition of the project “evaluated and graded the chemical policies and practices of 40 of the largest North American retailers, including grocery and fast food chains,” SCHF informed. The report revealed that major retailers “are making slow but meaningful progress at improving the chemical safety of the products, food, and packaging they sell, but nearly half of those scored — including every restaurant chain evaluated — have failed to take any public measures to help eliminate toxic chemicals from the products they carry.”
Companies Apple, Target, Walmart, and IKEA earned the highest grades in the ranking. As a novelty, the project also evaluated six fast food chains that represent ten brands: Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s, Panera, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Tim Hortons, Starbucks, and Subway. All fast food companies received insufficient grades because they “significantly lagged behind other retailers in reducing chemical hazards” and “have been slow to announce chemicals policies and to publicly address toxic chemicals, such as phthalates and PFAS[s], in packaging and other food contact materials.”
Read more
SCHF (November 14, 2018). “Report: Restaurant chains lag on toxic chemicals, while 21 retailers make progress to protect consumers.”
Leigh Stringer (November 14, 2018). “Apple, Walmart, Target top U.S. retailer chemical rankings.” Chemical Watch
Alissa Sasso (November 20, 2018). “Can top retailers make safer chemicals commitments tangible for consumers?” EDF + Business
Mike Schade and Mike Belliveau (November 20, 2018). “5 trends in sustainable retail promoting chemical safety.” GreenBiz
