Retail Initiatives on Safer Products

The GC3 “Engaging Retailers in the Adoption of Safer Products” Project Group (Retailer Group) has developed an inventory of initiatives and organizations relevant to retailers that are advancing sustainability with a focus on safer chemicals and products. The GC3 Retailer Group developed this inventory to understand the landscape of activities in this area.

Some sector-specific projects exist that are supporting retailers in advancing safer chemicals and products throughout supply chains. However, these tend to be projects that are part of organizations or initiatives that are more broadly addressing sustainability in retail or manufacturing industries.

Below is a summary table of the twelve initiatives/organizations reviewed:

For GC3 members, the companion document is available in the GC3 Members Area. For non-GC3 members, please contact us.

Name of Group	Purpose	Can Retailers Participate?	Who’s Involved?	Industry Sector	Projects that Address Toxics in Products
AFIRM (Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management Working Group)	Manage restricted substances in the apparel and footwear industry globally	Yes	Manufacturers and retailers	Apparel and footwear sectors	RSL Toolkit based on the AAFA RSL and Implementation Guide
BizNGO (Business – Non Governmental Organization) Working Group	Promote the creation and adoption of safer chemicals and sustainable materials	Yes	Businesses, government agencies, NGO's, retailers and universities	All sectors downstream of chemical manufacturers	Guiding Principles for Chemicals Policy and Implementation Guide Policy Initiatives for Advancing Safer Chemicals and Sustainable Materials Biospecs Project for Biobased Tableware
BSR (Business for Social Responsibility)	Guide global companies toward creating a just and sustainable world through their CSR efforts	Yes	Businesses, NGOs, retailers and universities	All sectors	Mills and Sundries Working Group
Ceres (Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies)	Integrate sustainability into day-to-day business practices	Yes	Businesses, investors, NGOs and retailers	All sectors	Footwear and Apparel Initiatives
ChemSec (International Chemical Secretariat)	Strive for a toxic free environment by 2020 through promoting concepts of precaution, substitution, polluter pays and right to know	Yes	Associations, businesses and retailers	All sectors	ChemSec Business Group
GAFTI (Global Apparel, Footwear and Textile Initiative)	Bring the apparel, footwear and textile industries together globally to improve efficiencies and set standards	Yes	Associations, brands, manufacturers, mills, retailers, and testing and compliance firms	Apparel, footwear and textile sectors	Product Safety Committee Sustainability Committee
GPR (Green Products Roundtable)	Bring more clarity to the green products marketplace	Yes	Certifiers, distributors, educators, manufacturers, researchers and retailers	All sectors	Framework for Differentiating Green Products Organizational Practices Matrix
OIA (Outdoor Industry Association)	Ensure the growth and success of the outdoor industry throughout the supply chain	Yes	Distributors, manufacturers, retailers, sales representatives and suppliers	Outdoor industry sector	Eco Working Group (Eco Index)
RILA (Retail Industry Leaders Association)	Collaborate with a network of retailers on five core issues: supply chain, asset protection, finance, human resources, and enterprise issues	Yes	Manufacturers, retailers and suppliers	All sectors	RSI Sustainability Working Group
SAC (Sustainable Apparel Coalition)	Develop an industry-wide index for business to use to measure and evaluate apparel and footwear product sustainability performance	Yes	Brands, government agencies, manufacturers, NGOs, retailers and universities	Apparel and footwear sectors	The Sustainable Apparel Index
TSC (The Sustainability Consortium)	Build the scientific base for understanding environmental and social impacts of products throughout their life cycles	Yes	Government agencies, manufacturers, NGOs, retailers and suppliers	All sectors	The Measurement Sciences Working Group Sector Working Groups (some are addressing toxics in products)
GCN (Green Chemistry Network)	Facilitate education, training and practice of Green Chemistry in industry, commerce, government, academia and schools through a worldwide network	Yes	Associations, manufacturers, NGOs, retailers and universities	All sectors	Green Chemistry and the Consumer Project

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