Key Findings and Recommendations
- Corporate Commitment: Based on available public information, Panera Bread has failed to commit to reducing toxic chemicals and plastics or supporting safer solutions. Panera Bread should publicly commit to develop and implement a corporate safer chemicals policy and actively explore best practices with peer organizations and outside experts.
- Transparency: Panera Bread requires suppliers to certify compliance with its restricted substance list (RSL) for packaging and requires suppliers to test packaging at a third-party laboratory for PFAS. However, the restaurant chain does not require disclosure of chemicals or plastics used in packaging.
- Ban the Bad: Panera Bread has adopted an RSL for to-go food packaging that includes PFAS, phthalates, and bisphenols. The company eliminated PFAS from to-go packaging in 2022 and changed its to-go cutlery from polystyrene to polypropylene in 2023. Panera should set clear, time-bound goals to reduce and eliminate other chemicals and plastics of high concern.
- Safer Solutions: There is no indication that Panera Bread has supported the development or sale of safer products. Panera Bread should work to ensure substitutes for chemicals and plastics of high concern are safer for the health of consumers, communities, workers, and the environment.
2024 Detailed Analysis of Panera Bread
Corporate Chemicals Policy
Adopted a safer chemicals policy
Oversight
Established management oversight
Chemical Footprint Project (CFP)
Participated in the CFP
Collaboration
Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals
Public Policy Support
Supported governmental policies to reduce chemicals or plastics of high concern
Supply Chain Disclosure
Brands report use of chemicals or plastics in products or packaging to retailer
Supplier Accountability
Ensures supply chain accountability for chemicals or plastics restrictions
Consumer Disclosure
Brands disclose use of chemicals or plastics to consumers
Chemical Footprint Calculation
Publicly disclosed its chemical footprint
Restricted Substances List (RSL)/Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL)
Reduction/Elimination Goals
Chemicals and Plastics Reduction
Reduced or eliminated toxic chemicals or plastics of high concern
Safer alternative definition
Adopted a definition of safer alternative consistent with Washington state
Investment in Safer Solutions
Invested financial resources to advance and drive development of safer solutions
Implementation of Safer Solutions
Replaced chemicals or plastics of concern with safer solutions
Quantified Safer Products
Measured and disclosed progress towards safer products
How does Panera Bread compare to its competitors?
Previous Grade History
NOTE: Our evaluation criteria changed in 2024. The scores from previous review years through 2021 are based on a different set of criteria measured.
Click or tap on a grade year to review additional details (where available).
