Retailer Tools to Evaluate Chemical Ingredients

Introduction

Increasing regulatory requirements and consumer and media pressure to sell safer or “green” products are driving retailers to understand more about the chemical ingredients in the products they sell and to find safer alternatives to chemicals of concern. Some retailers are developing their own tools or systems to evaluate the chemical content of the products they buy and sell, some are working with developers of 3rd party evaluation systems to develop customized tools, and others are working collaboratively to develop tools useful to a whole industry sector. Many retailers lack the resources to educate themselves about the tools and systems available so the Retailer Database is designed to help retailers begin the education process.

Tools

The tools included in the Retailer Database are either free or commercially available and enable retailers to evaluate chemicals or chemical-containing products for their potential human health and environmental impacts and identify chemicals or materials that are regulated or are of concern and not yet regulated. Most of the evaluative systems go beyond ensuring compliance with existing environmental regulations and provide additional information to retailers and manufacturers whose goal is to “green” their product lines by selling chemicals and chemical-containing products that are safer throughout the supply chain. A weakness of all tools and systems assessed is a lack of available data on product chemical content and toxicity through supply chains.

Comments

We welcome additions, modifications, and comments that will help us keep the Retailer Database up to date. Please send information to gc3Info@greenchemistryandcommerce.org.