Bed Bath & Beyond and its subsidiary buybuy BABY earned a grade of D+, scoring 35 out of 135 possible points , ranking 12th out of 30 retailers evaluated. This company has started to take some actions to address toxic chemicals in the products it sells, but still has much room for improvement. Over the years, Bed Bath & Beyond has taken leading-edge steps to restrict specific chemicals of concern, but has not made recent efforts public. The company established a Restricted Substances List (RSL) in 2014, and since 2008 has restricted chemicals like BPA in food-contact items; triclosan in personal care products ; phthalates, lead, and cadmium in baby products; and certain flame retardant chemicals in all products . It urges vendors to seek safer replacements for chemicals on their RSL, which includes a company-wide Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) .
Opportunities for improvement: Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY should increase the transparency of its chemical policy and implementation efforts. The company should establish a specific list of high priority chemicals of concern and a timeline for restrictions in specific product sectors , and commit to evaluating its corporate Chemical Footprint so that it can report on reductions of chemicals of high concern in a manner similar to its reporting of operational reductions of energy and water consumption.
Summary of Bed Bath & Beyond’s Grade
6 out of 15 points
Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy
The company has not set public quantifiable goals for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern, and its policy does not appear to apply to packaging or operations.
2.5 out of 10 points
Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives
It is not clear if the chemical policy is included in job descriptions, if the board is engaged in the chemical policy, or if there are financial incentives for senior management to implement safer chemical policies.
2.5 out of 10 points
Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability
The company has, however, not specifically disclosed initiatives to audit or train suppliers or to conduct testing on its own to ensure compliance with the policy.
5 out of 10 points
Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer
0 out of 15 points
Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern within the last three years
1 out of 10 points
Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes
6.5 out of 15 points
Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (and subsidiary buybuy BABY) do not appear to encourage or require the disclosure of ingredients in products sold online or on product packaging. They publicly disclose online the identity of glider chairs, ottomans, and changing pads that are free of flame retardant chemicals, going beyond regulatory compliance.
0 out of 7.5 points
Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint
1.5 out of 7.5 points
Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third party standards for safer products
Extra Credit:
0 out of 5 points
Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement
10 out of 15 points
Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy
0 out of 5 points
Safer Products: Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website
0 out of 5 points
Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals
0 out of 5 points
Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions