Good news - a First Step the Hazardous Chemicals Off of Store Shelves

By Cindy Luppi, New England Regional Director

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Walmart sent shockwaves this week when it announced that it will phase out up to 10 hazardous chemicals in the products it stocks and increase consumer right-to-know by requiring more transparency over product ingredients. This will result in a dramatic shift in product safety and give families more information about the often hidden ingredients in every day products like moisturizer, shampoos and household cleaners.  This is good news, and is a victory for all of us who have been pushing for leadership from retailers as we continue to fight for common sense chemical safe policies across the country. Walmart sees this as a first phase of a comprehensive chemicals policy that could extend beyond these first ten chemicals. And most importantly, they are acknowledging the need to think about safer alternatives so that one bad actor chemical isn't replaced by another. Walmart has a lot of work to do, as do other retailers and manufacturers, to follow through on this commitment and truly protect their customers. But this announcement will help build momentum for change in Congress and in state legislatures around the country where Clean Water Action helps lead the charge to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives. Thank you to all the Clean Water Action allies and members who made phone calls, sent emails and hand-delivered comment cards urging safer products from WalMart and other retailers -- we have spoken with a clear and powerful voice, and Walmart is beginning to hear us.  Together with announcements from companies like Proctor & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson this step away from toxic chemicals is a new chapter in the on-going story of preventing harm to our health from toxic chemicals.