Walmart Reveals Chemicals to be Phased Out

Major US retailer Walmart has disclosed the eight chemicals it wants suppliers to eliminate from the cleaning, personal care and cosmetic products sold in its stores. The chemicals are formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl and diethyl phthalates, nonylphenol ethoxylates, butyl- and propylparaben, and triclosan.

In the wake of consumer pressure, and after two years of collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Walmart in 2013 unveiled its policy on chemical ingredients, mandating full disclosure and targeting ten key chemicals of concern. The retailer gave notice in January 2014 to its suppliers that it required the phase out of priority chemicals in consumer products sold in Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the US. However, it has only just revealed the specific chemicals in an update on its sustainability hub.

Walmart said that to date, it has successfully removed 95% of high-priority chemicals by volume weight from the products it sells in the US that are in the scope of its policy. From 2018, Walmart’s policy states that the use of any of the priority chemicals listed must be disclosed on its packaging. The company added that it would work with suppliers to encourage them to disclose ingredients in all markets where they operate, not just the US.