Loblaw

Policy:Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

8.75 out of 23.5 points

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) has no public written safer chemicals policy but has a publicly available beyond restricted substance list (BRSL) in the form of corporate social responsibility (CSR) targets restricting three chemicals of high concern (CHCs). The CHCs are 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); and bisphenols in thermal receipt paper. 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.” In response to questions about its progress, Loblaw indicated: “we also have transitioned all our control brand infant formula pouches and infant formula tubs (more than 50 products in total) to BPA free packaging.”

In its latest 2019 CSR report, Loblaw set a new public quantifiable goal in the form of a CSR target for eliminating phenol receipt paper across all its divisions by the end of 2021.

The company does not have a publicly available manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL) or beyond restricted material list (BRML) for plastics of environmental health concern (PEHC). The company’s policy does not appear to apply to beauty products of environmental justice concern (BPEJC).

Glossary of Terms

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

1.25 out of 5 points

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) engages senior-level management in developing and implementing its Corporate Social Responsibility commitments, including its beyond restricted substance list (BRSL) commitments. The company receives partial credit because Loblaw has no public written safer chemicals policy.

Glossary of Terms

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

6.25 out of 15 points

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) 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 beyond restricted substance list (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 BRSL.

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 BRSL, but since its product technologists provide technical support to suppliers, partial credit is awarded.

Glossary of Terms

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

5 out of 17.5 points

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

Glossary of Terms

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

15 out of 26 points

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) reported that it 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. The company also stated that it completed its transition to pouches and tubs free of bisphenol A (BPA) for control-brand infant formula.

Glossary of Terms

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

5 out of 20 points

Loblaw Companies Limited’s beyond restricted substance list (BRSL) is publicly available.

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) does not appear to encourage or require suppliers to publicly disclose ingredients in products online or on product packaging going beyond regulatory compliance.

Glossary of Terms