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Chemical Footprint Goals

A corporate statement of intent to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in favor of safer alternatives is critical as a means of setting an overall approach to chemical use, supported by upper-level management. Achieving hazard reduction requires proactive implementation plans. Setting time-bound goals to reduce or eliminate a company’s chemical footprint or the use of specific chemicals of high concern provides focus for this work. Public reporting on progress toward goals provides a means of accountability.

The scope of hazard reduction goals varies. Companies that are new to chemicals management may respond to a media attention about a chemical of concern (e.g., BPA in can linings) by setting a goal to eliminate chemical X by Y date. As companies deepen their commitment to developing a comprehensive chemicals management system, they often work to identify a larger list of chemicals of concern in their products, packaging, or manufacturing processes. Goals are set for a larger number of chemicals of concern, including chemical classes, e.g., PFAS or ortho-phthalates, or for the organization’s chemical footprint. Goals may also be extended from an initial focus on a particular product line or product type to include additional products or packaging or manufacturing process chemicals.

Ideally, a regular process for reviewing goals and progress occurs at least annually and is part of public reporting on key performance indicators.

Examples of corporate chemical hazard reduction goals:

Apparel

Levi Strauss & Co

Timeline: Eliminate by 2020

Target Chemical(s): Priority Substances: all chemicals on MRSL

Percent/Amount: Eliminate 100%

Building Products and Furnishings

Herman Miller

Timeline: Reduce chemicals by 2023

Target Chemical(s): List of banned chemical classes

Percent/Amount: Reach 100 DfE approved products (cannot contain chemicals on Banned List to be DfE approved)

Steelcase

Timeline: Eliminate by 2020

Target Chemical(s): PVC and VOC

Percent/Amount: Eliminate PVC and Eliminate VOC in all manufacturing plants

Household and Personal Products

Clorox

Timeline: Reduce beginning in calendar year 2020

Target Chemical(s): Reduce cleaning products chemical footprint; annually report program progress beginning in calendar year 2020

Percent/Amount: Reduce chemical footprint

GOJO

Timeline: Reduce chemical footprint by 2020

Target Chemical(s): Total chemical footprint: mass of CoHCs in GOJO products

Percent/Amount: Reduce chemical footprint by 50%

Medical Devices and Supplies

Becton Dickinson and Co.

Timeline: Eliminate by 2020

Target Chemical(s): PVC and Phthalates in Devices; Phthalates, Brominated Flame Retardants (BDRs) and Heavy Metals from Instruments; and PVC and Expanded Polystyrene from Packaging

Percent/Amount: Eliminate 100%

Retailer

Dollar Tree

Timeline: Eliminate by 2020

Target Chemical(s): List of priority chemicals

Percent/Amount: Eliminate 100%

Target

Timeline: Eliminate and Disclose by 2020/2022

Target Chemical(s): Eliminate perfluorinated chemicals and flame retardants that are potential carcinogens or cause harm from textiles (2022); Eliminate phthalates, propyl-paraben, butyl-paraben, formaldehyde, formaldehyde-donors, and NPE's from formulations (2020); transparency for all ingredients in personal care products (2020); invest up to $5 million in green chemistry innovation (2022)

Percent/Amount: Eliminate/disclose

Walmart

Timeline: Reduce by 2022

Target Chemical(s): Consumables chemical footprint

Percent/Amount: Reduce chemical footprint by 10%

Toys and Sporting Goods

Radio Flyer

Timeline: 2021 (Eliminate PVC)

Target Chemical(s): Remove PVC from products and design/manufacture products that meet Radio Flyer's sustainability criteria

Percent/Amount: Eliminate PVC 100% and 10% of products meet sustainability criteria

Footprint Metric

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The Chemical Footprint Project gives companies across all industries tools to evaluate their progress in reducing Chemicals of High Concern and proactively identify opportunities for further action,

- Joyce Taylor

CFP greatly simplifies the complex issue of chemicals management. We now have a tool that is available for plugging into purchasing decisions.

- Monica Nakielski

Hazardous chemicals “present reputational, regulatory, and reformulation risks across a broad range of industry sectors. Investors need to understand how companies are meaningfully managing these risks.

- Susan Baker

CFP is a market differentiator and provides a competitive advantage for business leaders. This new tool will add a level of transparency and help companies mitigate reputational and regulatory risks and exploit opportunities afforded by moving to safer chemicals.

- Roger McFadden

The Investor Environmental Health Network welcomes the launch of the Chemical Footprint Project. For too long chemicals and health have been missing pieces in Environmental Social Governance (ESG) assessments. Now we have a tool that investors can use to fill in this critical information.

- Richard Liroff

Participating in the Chemical Footprint Project pilot led us to develop a formal chemical policy that will be included on our website. Our chemicals policy and its successful implementation is the very heart of our company philosophy.

Footprint Metric

Chemical Footprint Goals

Apparel

Building Products and Furnishings

Household and Personal Products

Medical Devices and Supplies

Retailer

Toys and Sporting Goods

Footprint Metric

- Joyce Taylor

- Monica Nakielski

- Susan Baker

- Roger McFadden

- Richard Liroff

- Jessica Iclisoy