Loblaw’s grade – Ranking retailers on toxic chemicals

Loblaw earned a grade of C, scoring 52 out of a possible 135 points and ranking 13th among 40 retailers scored.

Loblaw has a public safer chemicals policy that includes a BRSL and applies to packaging as well as products. Loblaw’s statement on BPA states that the company is committed “to taking measured and educated steps to remove [ingredients of concern], where possible, from [its] products, and is transitioning formula, food and snack products to BPA-free packaging.” In its 2017 CSR report, Loblaw disclosed a goal of removing triclosan, phthalates, and plastic microbeads from household, beauty, and cosmetic products in two of its private-label product lines by the end of 2018, and mentioned an ongoing effort to “encourage [its] suppliers to identify and eliminate phthalates that may come from other sources, such as manufacturing equipment and packaging.” The company reported progress on this initiative, stating that it “successfully stopped manufacturing products formulated with plastic microbeads, triclosan and phthalates by year-end 2017.” The company stated: “We continue to encourage our suppliers to identify and eliminate phthalates that may come from manufacturing equipment and packaging.” The company also engages an advisory board of two experts to regularly provide input on matters related to the chemicals policy.

Opportunities for improvement: Loblaw can make progress by developing public BRSLs for a broader assortment of private-label and brand-name products in key product categories, setting public quantifiable goals with clear timelines for removing BPA and other bisphenols from receipts, and completely eliminating and safely replacing BPA and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging and food contact materials as well as phthalates in food and food contact materials in its supply chain. Loblaw should become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project and pilot it with key private label suppliers. Loblaw can also improve its score by enhancing transparency through disclosing fragrance ingredients for private-label and brand-name products online and on product labels.

Summary of Loblaw’s Grade

12.5 out of 17.5 points

Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

As described in its 2017 CSR Report, Loblaw Companies Limited has a written public safer chemicals policy (in the form of a CSR Target) that aims to avoid three chemicals of high concern – BPA, triclosan and phthalates – in the household, beauty, and cosmetic products of two of its private-label brands, Life Brand and President’s Choice. Loblaw’s goal was for these products to be formulated without the three chemicals by year-end 2018. Loblaw also encourages “suppliers to identify and eliminate phthalates that may come from other sources, such as manufacturing equipment and packaging.”

According to its BPA Statement from March 2016, Loblaw is working with suppliers on sourcing alternatives for BPA, focusing on products for infants including formula, food and snack products. The statement reads: “The safety of the food and products we sell to Canadians is of the utmost importance to us. As a company, Loblaw has committed to reviewing ingredients of concern and to taking measured and educated steps to remove them, where possible, from our products.”

Based on Loblaw’s 2017 CSR report and its 2016 statement on BPA, the company has a written safer chemicals policy applying to products and packaging, has set quantifiable public goals for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern in its products, and has developed a Beyond Restricted Substance List (BRSL) of three chemicals. Loblaw only has stores in Canada, and the policy appears to apply throughout Canada. The policy does not appear to apply to its entire operations, and Loblaw does not have a publicly available Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL).

5 out of 7.5 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited engages senior-level management and its board of directors in developing its Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, including those regarding chemicals of concern.

5 out of 10 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

Explanation of Points

Loblaw product technologists review and approve suppliers and formulas for private-label personal care and cosmetic products. The company communicates its RSL to all suppliers and requires third-party testing for products that carry “free of” claims related to substances on the RSL.

2.5 out of 10 points

Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer

Explanation of Points

Loblaw requires private-label suppliers to report all ingredient information for personal care and cosmetic products and the presence of chemicals of interest, including phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, BPA, fragrance, Triclosan, Synthetic Scrubbing Beads, SLS/SLES. It’s unclear if fragrance formula ingredients for private-label products are also collected.

12 out of 15 points

Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern within the last three years

Explanation of Points

Loblaw publicly reports that suppliers stopped manufacturing Life Brand and President’s Choice household, beauty and cosmetic products with triclosan, phthaltes, or plastic microbeads at the end of 2017, but the company did not report associated metrics.

0 out of 10 points

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

Explanation of Points

No discernible approach or public commitment to safer alternatives in products, packaging or operations. The company does not state an explicit preference for the use of safer alternatives.

7.5 out of 15 points

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

Explanation of Points

Loblaw’s safer chemicals policy and Beyond Restricted Substance List (BRSL) are both publicly available.

Loblaw 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

Explanation of Points

No discernible progress on chemical footprint.

0 out of 7.5 points

Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third party standards for safer products

Explanation of Points

No discernible progress on credible third-party safer chemicals standards going beyond regulatory compliance.

Extra Credit:

2.5 out of 5 points

Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

Explanation of Points

Loblaw coordinated public statements on progress with Environmental Defence Canada in advance of a major public announcement related to phasing out triclosan, microbeads and phthalates.

0 out of 15 points

Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

No discernible pattern of significant, consistent, or long-term improvements over time or over the past year.

0 out of 5 points

Safer Products: Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website

Explanation of Points

Loblaw has no discernible program to feature and market safer products on store shelves and/or its website.

5 out of 5 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

Explanation of Points

Loblaw has engaged two expert advisors, functioning as an advisory board, to regularly provide input on implementation of the company’s safer chemicals policy and to prioritize efforts on chemicals of concern.

0 out of 5 points

Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions

Explanation of Points

No indication that company invests significant financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives to chemicals of high concern and/or green chemistry solutions.

Take Action