How does Staples rank on toxic chemicals?

D+

Staples earned a grade of D+, scoring 37.5 out of 135 possible points and ranking 17th out of 40 retailers. Staples has not publicly released or implemented a chemical policy that was shared with us last year for planned release in 2018, although the company indicated to us that it is still working to release it at the end of the year. Staples’ low grade is especially disappointing since in the first half of this decade, Staples was an emerging leader in addressing chemicals of concern in the products that it sold. It was the first major retailer to become a signatory of the Chemical Footprint Project, actively participated in partnerships with NGOs and other companies, and earned an award from the US EPA recognizing its efforts to promote Safer Choice-certified products. Since then, while it has made some important progress in specific initiatives, such as addressing chemical flame retardants in chairs, progress at the company towards a comprehensive policy seems to have slowed or even regressed.

Opportunities for improvement: Staples should adopt a public written safer chemicals policy, enforce a restricted substances list, set 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

0 out of 17.5 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 “providing cleaner, safer chemicals.” The company notes that, “Staples recognizes that not all chemicals 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, however, make no mention of a safer chemicals policy.

Prior to the release of the 2017 report card, Staples shared with us a confidential comprehensive draft chemicals policy and indicated it would be implemented in early 2018. Based on review of that document, we had awarded Staples 6 points for policy in 2017. However, Staples informed us that implementation was delayed due to changes of staff and other internal factors, and while they still hope to release it by the end of 2018, we are not awarding points for policy this year.

2.5 out of 7.5 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

Explanation of Points

Staples informed us of a number of senior staff working towards implementing its current efforts around specific chemicals of high concern, as well as its forthcoming policy.

2.5 out of 10 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

Explanation of Points

Staples informed us that, despite not yet having a formal written policy, the company has taken action to prohibit several chemicals of high concern in its private-label products and that it regularly tests for compliance with this policy, earning points for one of the four elements. Additionally, 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.

5 out of 10 points

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

Explanation of Points

Staples informed us that it requires all suppliers to disclose every chemical in a product that triggered a Proposition 65 warning (to the retailer, not the consumer). While not as comprehensive as the LT-1 list, this disclosure could be the equivalent of having mandatory disclosure of a company created BRSL.

6 out of 15 points

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

Explanation of Points

Staples has not recently publicly reported on actions taken to reduce or eliminate chemicals of high concern. However, the company informed us that it followed through on a public pledge made in 2016 to work to eliminate chemical flame retardants in chairs it sells. The company also informed us that it has eliminated phthalates from its private-label chair mats and BPA from its private-label add rolls, although it was not clear when these changes were made.

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.

2.5 out of 15 points

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

Explanation of Points

Staples has indicated to us that it will publically release a BRSL along with a chemicals policy at the end of 2018.

Staples 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. The retailer noted it will be doing more with the release of its policy and has previously requested details from suppliers on the presence of specific chemicals to fulfill customer requests, but this information was not made public.

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. However, last year the company indicated that it was in the process of preparing a new policy, which has yet to be released.

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 and use “environmental” filters to find selected certified products while shopping online.

5 out of 5 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

Explanation of Points

The company states that it is “partnering with collaborative groups that drive the advancement of green chemistry, green engineering, safer chemicals and more sustainable products in the marketplace.” Staples notably is a member 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, among 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.

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