Leaders and Laggards

Leaders and Laggards

In what has become an increasingly competitive race to the top, some retailers are consistent high performers or have demonstrated significant progress over time in phasing out hazardous chemicals and moving toward safer chemistries. In contrast to those retail leaders, others are clear laggards that have not publicly disclosed even the most basic approaches to ensuring safer chemicals, products, and packaging. Here are this year’s retail leaders and laggards with a summary of the most notable improvements they’ve made since the fall of 2019.

Best in Class

The retailers who earn high grades demonstrate continuous improvement in phasing out chemicals of concern (including some plastics) in their products, packaging, and supply chains. They have publicly adopted safer chemicals policies that include goals and timelines, and lists of restricted substances. They work with their suppliers to disclose chemical use and ensure adherence to their policies. High-performing retailers continue to expand the scope and reach of their chemical programs, have senior management oversight, and are transparent in reporting their progress to their customers and other stakeholders, among other hallmarks.

Several retailers have shown best-in-class performance on safer chemicals with each earning a grade of A- or better. Notably, this is the first year that Sephora and Whole Foods Market have earned top grades. Listed alphabetically:

• Apple aims for full material disclosure in addition to restricting substances.
• IKEA remains on the leading edge of phasing out chemicals of high concern.
• Sephora has demonstrated recent significant progress implementing its policy.
• Target continues to steadily expand the reach of its chemical policy.
• Walmart is implementing among the first and most comprehensive chemical policies.
• Whole Foods Market has made recent progress on chemicals in food packaging.

What’s New

The retailers who earn high grades demonstrate continuous improvement in phasing out chem

The table below summarizes the most significant new public commitments on safer chemicals adopted since the 4th annual retailer report card was published in November 2019. For each retailer who reported major progress, the table highlights both new chemical reduction commitments and/or fresh updates in retailer chemical policies. For more incremental progress not reported, see the detailed analysis for each retailer.

Visit our What’s New page for additional narrative detail.