Staples

Chemical Footprint Project (CFP)

Staples is a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project (CFP), but has not responded to the CFP 2023 survey.

Supply Chain Disclosure

Staples requires disclosure of chemical ingredients from all private-label and brand-name formulated product suppliers. The level of disclosure for private-label formulated products is full disclosure. Staples also requires disclosure of plastics for the packaging of private-label formulated products and articles.

The company stated this disclosure supports evaluation against the company’s safer chemicals policy, priority chemicals of concern List, and for state regulatory compliance.

The company does not ask for disclosure of chemicals in private-label articles at the SKU level at this time, however does collect information about plastics in certain articles and has integrated chemical restrictions with testing protocols in some private-label articles such as PFAS in textiles.

Finally, as part of its annual supplier ESG assessments, Staples asks brand-name article vendors to disclose whether they have chemicals policies and restricted substance lists (RSLs), and whether those policies and restrictions address specific priority chemicals on Staples’ priority chemicals of concern list. The company has started using the insights from that survey to prioritize additional engagement with national brand vendors in specific areas.

Supplier Accountability

Staples tests private-brand textiles, such as office chairs, for fluorine to screen for PFAS. This testing is ongoing and has been in place for a few years.

As the company develops a restricted substance list (RSL) this year for private-label products, it plans to update testing protocols and validation requirements for suppliers to ensure the company is measuring progress against elimination of chemicals of high concern (CHCs).

Consumer Disclosure

Staples’ safer chemicals policy states that it encourages its suppliers to provide chemical information on their packaging and/or website and to openly share information about chemicals on Staples’ priority chemicals of concern lists with customers when requested. It requires factory partners to disclose plastic resin identification codes on plastic packaging for consumers.

Ingredient disclosure is integrated into the majority of private-label cleaning product categories Staples sells under its Coastwide Professional and Perk brands. This includes products such as glass cleaners, multi-purpose, floor and carpet cleaners, degreasers, and air fresheners.

Staples does not require or encourage ingredient disclosure to consumers at the article level outside of specific materials and claims that are determined to be of most relevant for the consumer.

Through its EcoID program, Staples allows customers to filter products by third-party certification, including US EPA Safer Choice and Green Seal.

Chemicals and Plastics Reduction

Since March 2020, Staples has removed PFAS chemicals from its own-brand molded fiber products including plates and bowls. Staples has also required that the textiles used on office chairs cannot contain PFAS as determined by a total fluorine test.

Safer alternative definition

Staples has publicly adopted a definition of “safer alternative” consistent with Washington state.

Implementation of Safer Solutions

Staples’ Coastwide private brand includes 14 EPA Safer Choice products.