New Report Exposes Canadian Retailers Are Still Lagging Behind U.S. Retailers on Chemical Safety

Couche-Tard and Sobeys receive failing grades; Loblaws, Metro, Canadian Tire, and Tim Hortons†parent company get ‘Dâ€s

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – A new report released today of U.S. and Canadian retailers, written by Toxic-Free Future in collaboration with Environmental Defence, finds Canadian-based retailers are failing to protect consumers from toxic chemicals and plastics. With low to failing grades, Canadian retailers are not rising to the challenge of addressing the toxics on their shelves. While a few U.S.-based retailers achieve ‘A†scores, Canadian-based retailers donâ€t appear in the Top 20, and their scores are generally below the average of a D+.

The 2024 Retailer Report Card, now in its sixth edition, is the most comprehensive assessment of corporate policies on toxic chemicals and plastics in North America. The report evaluates and grades the chemical policies and practices of 50 retail chains covering more than 200,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. U.S. retailers’ average score is 24%, while Canadian retailers score 11%.

“We might assume that the products on our shelves in Canada are safer than in the U.S., but it turns out theyâ€re not,†said Cassie Barker, report contributor and Senior Program Manager for Toxics at Environmental Defence. “U.S. retailers are failing, and Canadian ones fare even worse. Some American retailers appear committed to making products and food safer for their customers, including voluntarily phasing out dangerous “forever chemicals†like PFAS. But in Canada, a voluntary approach to safer products is not working. To protect human and environmental health, we need the Canadian federal government to take the lead with stronger rules and regulatory action.â€

Canadian-based retailer scores:

Canadian Tire: D+

• Includes Helly Hansen, Mark’s, Party City, and SportChek

Loblaw: D

• Includes Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortinos, Independent, Maxi, No Frills, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore, T&T, Valu-Mart, and Zehrs

Metro: D-

• Includes Brunet, Food Basics, Jean Coutu, Marché Richelieu, Première Moisson, Super C

Restaurant Brands International (RBI): D-

• Includes Burger King, Firehouse Subs, Popeyes, Tim Hortons

Sobeys: F

• Includes Foodland, FreshCo, IGA, IGA Extra, Lawtons Drugs, Les Marches Tradition, Marche Bonichoix, Needs, Rachelle Bery, Safeway, Thrifty Foods

Alimentation Couche-Tard: F

• Includes Couche Tard, Circle K, Ingo

The 160 retailers evaluated generate over $4 trillion in annual revenue and hold significant influence over the use of toxic chemicals in their supply chains.

“Retailers are making record profits,” added Barker. “They should have the capacity to monitor what products are on their shelves and ensure that they are safe. The top scorers demonstrate this is possible.”

“With PFAS in our drinking water and toxics found in black plastic spatulas, it is shocking how little retailers are doing to help solve this health crisis linked to hazardous chemicals and plastics in consumer products,” said Cheri Peele, co-author of the 2024 Retailer Report Card and senior policy manager for Toxic-Free Future. “Retailers must require ingredient transparency, ban the most hazardous chemicals and plastics in products and packaging, and invest in safer solutions.”

“Simply banning toxic chemicals isnâ€t enough. Governments and retailers must go further to ensure that replacements are truly safer for consumers, communities, and workers,†said Mike Schade, co-author of the 2024 Retailer Report Card and director of Toxic-Free Futureâ€s Mind the Store program.

Read the full report at RetailerReportCard.com

Background: 

• Retailers were evaluated based on publicly available information. All were given the opportunity to review and respond to their scores before publication.
• Canadian Tire has a corporate chemicals policy for managing toxic substances and has restricted some chemicals and plastics including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in outdoor equipment, but they do not disclose toxic chemicals and plastics that they sell to customers, or invest in safer solutions for their products.
• Loblawâ€s has eliminated bisphenols in their receipts, but their chemicals policy does not commit to avoiding chemicals of high concern, nor does it require its suppliers to disclose chemical ingredients or plastics to the retailer or consumers, or require testing to ensure products are free of hazardous chemicals or plastics.
• Metro has also shifted to bisphenol-free receipt paper, but they have failed to commit to reducing toxic chemicals and plastics or supporting safer solutions, nor do they require suppliers to disclose chemical ingredients or plastics to the retailer or consumers.
• RBI has eliminated polystyrene and made progress on eliminating PFAS from over 90% of guest packaging, but does not have a publicly available corporate chemicals policy, or require supplier transparency or product testing.
• Sobeys has eliminated some polystyrene, but has failed to commit to reducing toxic chemicals and plastics or supporting safer solutions, and it does not require its suppliers to disclose chemical ingredients or plastics to the retailer or consumers.
• Alimentation Couche-Tard has failed to take any steps toward safer products or packaging, either through a corporate chemicals policy, requiring information on chemical ingredients, restricting toxic chemicals and plastics beyond regulatory compliance, or supporting the development or sale of safer products. Alimentation Couche-Tard did not respond to our requests for additional information or comments on its draft score.
• Some US retailers are banning dangerous chemicals and harmful plastics, with 68% percent of retailers having made progress reducing certain toxic chemicals and plastics such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals†and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic.
• Published as part of Toxic-Free Futureâ€s Mind the Store program, the 2024 Retailer Report Card analyzes 50 major U.S. and Canadian retailers, including their subsidiaries, representing 160 businesses that generate over $4 trillion in annual revenue and hold significant influence over the use of toxic chemicals in their supply chains. Toxic-Free Futureâ€s Retailer Report Card assigns grades based on the companyâ€s efforts to eliminate hazardous chemicals and plastics from their supply chains and ensure safer solutions.
• Mind the Store, Toxic-Free Futureâ€s market transformation program, challenges the nationâ€s largest retailers to adopt robust policies to eliminate the most toxic chemicals and plastics in products, packaging, and global supply chains. These efforts make items on store shelves safer and drive change on a global scale.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

ABOUT TOXIC-FREE FUTURE: Toxic-Free Future is a national leader in environmental health research and advocacy. Through the power of science, education, and activism, Toxic-Free Future drives strong laws and corporate responsibility that protects the health of all people and the planet.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Lauren Thomas, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca