Ace Hardware is failing to publicly address toxic chemicals in the products it sells. With a letter grade of F, it was one of twelve retailers (out of 40) in our review to score zero points with no significant public facing commitments to address the safety of chemicals used in the products it sells or in its private brands. This is the second year that Ace Hardware has been included in the Retailer Report Card, and its second year of earning an F. It has shown no public signs of responding to consumer demand for safer chemicals policies.
As a retail cooperative, most Ace stores are independently owned and operated and have some flexibility in determining what they stock and market. However, the Ace Hardware company is responsible for selecting private-label products and can greatly influence what is marketed at its member stores. While some local Ace stores have made progress in promoting safer products, leadership is clearly needed from the company to commit to addressing chemicals of high concern and identifying and promoting safer alternatives.
Opportunities for improvement: Ace Hardware can make progress by developing a public written safer chemicals policy, setting public quantifiable goals with clear timelines for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern with a special emphasis on private-label products the company is responsible for vetting. Ace Hardware should join other retailers in banning the sale of paint strippers containing methylene chloride and NMP. Ace Hardware should also become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project and pilot it with key private-label suppliers.
Summary of Ace Hardware’s Grade
0 out of 17.5 points
Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy
0 out of 7.5 points
Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives
0 out of 10 points
Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability
0 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
0 out of 10 points
Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes
0 out of 15 points
Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure
Ace Hardware does not appear to encourage or require the disclosure of ingredients in products online or on product packaging or publicly disclose the identity of articles or formulated products that are free of chemicals of high concern going beyond regulatory compliance.
0 out of 7.5 points
Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint
0 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
0 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