Albertsons

Key Findings and Recommendations

• Corporate Commitment: Albertsons has a public written safer chemicals policy to “limit certain ingredients of consumer concern.” The company should participate in the Chemical Footprint Project survey to improve its chemicals management and publicly support governmental policies to reduce chemicals and plastics of high concern.
• Transparency: Albertsons highlights for consumers cleaning products that meet EPA’s Safer Choice and Design for the Environment programs. Otherwise, there is no indication Albertsons requires suppliers to disclose chemical ingredients or plastics to the retailer or consumers, nor that it requires testing to ensure products are free of hazardous chemicals or plastics beyond regulatory compliance. Albertsons should require ingredient disclosure, verify accuracy, and evaluate its chemical footprint.
• Ban the Bad: Albertsons does not have a publicly available restricted substance list (RSL) or manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL) beyond regulatory compliance. However, the company has removed BPA from private-label baby products and more than 300 canned goods, parabens from private-label baby products, and has committed to phase out PFAS in food packaging. Albertsons should report on its PFAS progress and join other retailers in setting public, time-bound goals for reducing and eliminating chemicals and plastics of high concern.
• Safer Solutions: Albertsons promotes private-label cleaning products that are certified by EPA’s Safer Choice program but has taken no other action to support safer solutions. Albertsons should join other retailers by committing to invest financial resources in tools and research to help its suppliers evaluate safer alternatives to chemicals and plastics of high concern.