We’re celebrating some big wins with our Mind the Store campaign work this fall! This campaign focuses on targeting major retailers and urging them to work with their suppliers to shift away from toxic chemicals in products, including the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Recent highlights include:
September 17, 2019: Home Depot announces it will no longer sell carpets or textiles containing PFAS chemicals.
September 19, 2019: Ahold Delhaize, the parent company of numerous grocery store chains, announced a “sustainable chemistry commitment” that restricts toxic chemicals, including the classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols, ortho-phthalates, and other chemicals, in the products sold across its 2,000 stores nationwide. Ahold’s stores include Food Lion, Giant Food, GIANT/Martin’s, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop, as well as the online grocer Peapod.
October 30, 2019: Lowe’s, North America’s second-largest home improvement retailer, announced that it will phase out the sale of all indoor residential carpets and rugs containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
October 31, 2019: Staples launched a new Chemicals Policy for their office furniture and electronics, targeting the reduction and substitution of toxic chemicals including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as well as organohalogen flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and other dangerous chemicals.
These are big wins that will dramatically reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in our homes and workplaces and reduce contamination from these chemicals at the products end of life.
Current work includes urging Best Buy to restrict the use of organohalogen flame retardants in televisions and electronics. The European Union restricts these flame retardants in products sold in the EU. Since Best Buy complies with that standard in Europe, we want them to sell non-toxic televisions and electronics here in the U.S.
Clean Water Action works in coalition with hundreds of organizations and businesses in the Mind the Store coalition. We are united by our common concern about toxic chemicals in our homes, workplaces, schools and products we use every day. It's incredible to see the impact we are having working together! Stay tuned as we launch the 2019 Retailer Report Card on November 19th and see what your favorite retailers are doing to “Mind the Store.”
