How do Loblaws & Shoppers Drug Mart rank on toxic chemicals?

Loblaw Companies Limited earned a grade of C, the same letter grade that it achieved last year. The company scored 51.25 out of a possible 146.5 points, ranking 16th out of the 43 retailers evaluated this year.

Loblaw has a public safer chemicals policy that includes a beyond restricted substance list (BRSL) of three chemicals 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 by the end of 2018 in the only two private-label product lines that carry these types of products – Life Brand and President’s Choice. The company reported progress on this initiative, stating that by the end of 2018, it had formulated all of its Life Brand and President’s Choice household, beauty, and cosmetic products without triclosan or phthalates. The company also reported that it continues to encourage suppliers to identify and eliminate phthalates that may come from other sources such as manufacturing equipment and packaging, as it did in 2017. 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 and publicly disclosing expanded BRSLs for a broader assortment of private-label and brand-name products in key product categories and by setting additional public quantifiable goals with clear timelines for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern (CHCs). In particular, we urge the company to remove all bisphenols, including BPA and BPS, from thermal paper receipts, and eliminate and safely replace any bisphenols and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that may be in food packaging and food contact materials as well as any phthalates that may be 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 2018 CSR Report, Loblaw Companies Limited has a written public safer chemicals policy (in the form of a CSR Target) that aims to avoid two chemicals of high concern – triclosan and phthalates – in the household, beauty, and cosmetic products sold under its Life Brand and President’s Choice brand, the only two private labels that carry these types of products. Loblaw reported that by the end of 2018, it met its goal of formulating all of its Life Brand and President’s Choice household, beauty, and cosmetic products without triclosan or phthalates. 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 … In particular, we have focused our efforts on products for infants, transitioning our formula, food and snack products to BPA-free packaging.”

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 CHCs in its products, and has developed a 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 operations, and Loblaw does not have a publicly available manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL).

2.5 out of 5 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited engages senior-level management in developing and implementing its Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, including its safer chemicals policy. Loblaw Companies Limited does not appear to offer financial incentives for senior management to implement its safer chemicals policy.

6.25 out of 12.5 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited product technologists review and approve suppliers and formulas for private-label personal care and cosmetic products. The company requires third-party testing for products that carry “free of” claims related to substances on the BRSL and stated that third-party testing occurs based on risk. However, Loblaw does not routinely conduct its own testing to ensure suppliers comply with its safer chemicals policy.

Loblaw communicates its BRSL to all suppliers and requires vendors to confirm that products are formulated without the chemicals on Loblaw’s BRSL by completing a legally-binding Product Specification Sheet prior to the commencement of production. Loblaw does not train suppliers on its safer chemicals policy, but since its product technologists provide technical support to suppliers, partial credit is awarded.

2.5 out of 13 points

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

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited requires private label suppliers to report all ingredient information for personal care and cosmetic products and the presence of chemicals on its BRSL (e.g. phthalates and triclosan) and other chemicals of interest, including BPA, parabens, formaldehyde, fragrance, Synthetic Scrubbing Beads, and SLS/SLES. It’s unclear if fragrance formula ingredients for private-label products are also collected.

15 out of 16 points

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

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited reported that it had formulated all of its Life Brand and President’s Choice household, beauty and cosmetic products without triclosan and phthalates as of the end of 2018.

0 out of 13.5 points

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited does not have a discernible approach regarding or has not made a public commitment to safer alternatives in products, packaging, or operations.

7.5 out of 18 points

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited’s safer chemicals policy and BRSL are publicly available.

Loblaw Companies Limited does not appear to encourage or require suppliers to publicly disclose ingredients in products online or on product packaging and does not publicly disclose the identity of articles or formulated products that are free of CHCs going beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 7.5 points

Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited has not made any discernible progress on measuring its chemical footprint via the Chemical Footprint Project.

0 out of 8.5 points

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

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited has not shown discernible progress on credible third-party safer chemicals standards going beyond regulatory compliance.

Extra Credit:

0 out of 5 points

Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited coordinated public statements on progress with Environmental Defence Canada in advance of a major public announcement related to phasing out triclosan and phthalates. However, since this coordination happened before November 2017, credit can no longer be awarded in this category.

0 out of 15 points

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

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited has not exhibited any discernible pattern of significant, consistent, or long-term improvements over the past year or a longer period of time going beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 5 points

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

Explanation of Points

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

5 out of 5 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

Explanation of Points

Loblaw Companies Limited 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

There is no indication that the retailer invests significant financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives to CHCs and/or green chemistry solutions.

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