How does Staples rank on toxic chemicals?

Staples earned a grade of D, scoring 30.5 out of 135 possible points, ranking 13th out of 30 retailers. Several years ago, Staples was an emerging leader in addressing chemicals of concern in the products that it sold, becoming the first major retailer to become a signatory of the Chemical Footprint Project, actively participating in partnerships with NGOs and other companies, and earning an award from the US EPA recognizing its efforts to promote Safer Choice certified products. Although progress at the company seems to have slowed, Staples did restrict the use of flame retardant chemicals in private label chairs. While public presentations made in 2013 featured draft Restricted Substances Lists and plans for working with suppliers to reduce hazardous chemicals, its websites and current publicly available documents make no mention of a safer chemical policy or restricted substance list. We are encouraged that Staples has recently shared a confidential draft of a comprehensive chemical policy, which is undergoing peer review, and plans to roll that out with its suppliers in early 2018.

Opportunities for improvement: Staples should adopt a public written safer chemical policy, finalize and enforce a restricted substances list, setting public quantifiable goals with clear timelines to reduce chemicals of high concern, and follow up to its signing on to the Chemical Footprint Project with a public release of its total chemical footprint with a detailed plan to reduce it.

Summary of Staples’ Grade

6 out of 15 points

Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

On its “Sustainable Products” website the company discusses issues and initiatives related to chemicals of concern framed as “cleaner, safer chemicals.” The company notes that, “Staples recognizes that not all chemicals, materials and products are created equal when it comes to their potentially adverse effects on human health and the environment.” From 2010 to 2014, leadership at Staples frequently discussed planned efforts to address chemical safety, and presentations from company leadership cited ongoing and planned efforts to make progress on a safer chemicals policy, and the company endorsed the BizNGO Principles for Safer Chemicals. The current Staples website and sustainability reports make no mention of a safer chemicals policy.

However, Staples shared with us a confidential comprehensive draft chemicals policy that it plans to finalize in 2018. Based on our review of that document, we are awarding 6 points to the company.

2.5 out of 10 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

Explanation of Points

Staples VP of Sustainability and Director of Sustainability will be responsible for deployment, training and overall management of its chemical policy.

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.

0 out of 10 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

Explanation of Points

Staples has contracted with UL Wercs to manage product chemical information primarily for compliance, but does not appear to address the supply chain accountability beyond these regulatory requirements.

0 out of 10 points

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

Explanation of Points

No discernible action on disclosure of ingredients that goes beyond OSHA Safety Data Sheet requirements or other compliance purposes.

3 out of 15 points

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

Explanation of Points

In December 2014, Staples (among others) pledged to preferentially purchase furniture without flame retardant chemicals, according to a survey by Center for Environmental Health, committing to: “Increasing our purchase/specification of furniture products that are free of chemical flame retardants–beginning with product categories that are not currently required to use flame retardants. Products that are clearly identified as not containing flame retardant chemicals will be preferred.” Recently, Staples said that they have eliminated flame retardants from Staples branded chairs. Staples states they are, “responding to market demand for high-performance products designed and made without hazardous chemicals; plus promoting the use of chemicals, processes and products that are inherently less hazardous” and “working with our suppliers to eliminate hazardous chemicals and transition to safer alternatives.” In years past the company described efforts to reduce chemicals of concern such as PVC and BPA, however the company has not disclosed progress to reduce or eliminate other chemicals of concern in the last three years.

2 out of 10 points

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

Explanation of Points

The company’s Sustainable Products website states an explicit preference for the use of safer alternatives in private label and brand name products, and the company shows preference for Safer Choice certified products.

0 out of 15 points

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

Explanation of Points

Staples had displayed a Beyond Restricted Substance List (BRSL) in a public presentations in 2013, but there is no evidence that it remains in effect as it is not available on the company’s website. Staples has more recently drafted a comprehensive safer chemicals policy, which is undergoing peer review, which it hopes (but could not pledge) to make public in 2018.

Staples does not appear to encourage or require the disclosure of ingredients in products sold 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.

1.5 out of 7.5 points

Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

Explanation of Points

Staples was the first major retailer to become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project.

3 out of 7.5 points

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

Explanation of Points

Staples sells and features cleaning products that meet Safer Choice and Green Seal standards on its Green Products website. The company also features furniture, boards & easels and cleaning chemicals that meet Cradle 2 Cradle standards, as well as electronics that meet EPEAT standards. In 2015 the company received an award from EPA for its work to promote Safer Choice certified products through its Sustainable Earth line of cleaning products. Staples also says: “Staples is currently tracking 48 different environmental attributes and 3rd party certifications to provide a portfolio report to Staples business customers. It tracks penetration of eco spend across all categories of products to assist customers to identify more sustainable alternatives.”

Extra Credit:

0 out of 5 points

Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

Explanation of Points

No discernible public commitment via joint announcement.

0 out of 15 points

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

Explanation of Points

In years past the company was making significant improvements on initiatives to address chemicals of concern, and recently has completed efforts to address flame retardants (as noted in the Action section). It is in the process of preparing a new policy for 2018, but has not made demonstrated improvements to its core policy in the past year.

5 out of 5 points

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

Explanation of Points

Staples actively promotes the sale of sustainable products, including cleaning products meeting Safer Choice standards. Consumers can shop for safer products through the company’s Sustainable Products website that meet numerous credible third-party standards. The company states, “Staples is committed to offering products that are inherently safer and more sustainable across their lifecycle to help maintain a healthy workplace and environment.”

5 out of 5 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

Explanation of Points

The company states they are, “partnering with collaborative groups that drive the advancement of green chemistry, green engineering, safer chemicals and more sustainable products in the marketplace.” They notably are members of BizNGO Working Group, Clean Production Action, EPA Safer Choice Product Labeling Program, Green Chemistry & Commerce Council’s Retail Leadership Council (RLC), the Health Product Declaration Collaborative, the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, and the Northwest Green Chemistry Center.

2.5 out of 5 points

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

Explanation of Points

Staples funded the Staples Sustainable Innovation Laboratory (SSIL) within the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), which amongst other things has looked at contributors to indoor air quality in offices. However it is unclear if this support helps identify safer alternatives to chemicals of high concern or green chemistry solutions. Staples is also a member of the REMADE Institute through RIT focused on increasing sustainable manufacturing in the US and reducing associated energy and emission impacts. “There is a focus on building a circular economy model which we believe will greatly influence the design of more benign and safer materials to reduce upstream and downstream impacts and human health hazards.”

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