Which stores make the grade for getting toxic chemicals off the shelves?
Out of the 40 largest retailers in North America, 19 lack any public policy to address toxic chemicals in the products found on their shelves.
Out of the 40 largest retailers in North America, 19 lack any public policy to address toxic chemicals in the products found on their shelves. In November 2018, the third “Who’s Minding the Store?” report card graded the chemical policies and practices of these retailers as part of the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families coalition’s Mind the Store campaign, which includes U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “When we go to the store, we shouldn’t have to worry about toxic chemicals in the products we use every day,” stated U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s Toxics Campaign Director Kara Cook-Shultz, “Retailers have a major role to play in protecting public health—including eliminating unsafe products from store shelves and adopting public policies addressing toxics.” Apple, Target, Walmart and IKEA all received top marks for setting the pace for the industry. Walgreens, Rite Aid and Amazon were ranked “most improved” for announcing sweeping chemical safety policies in the last two months.
How do your favorite stores measure up? Read the full report card here.
Photo Credit: Timothy Krause via Flickr, CC BY 2.0