In an article published on October 15, 2018, by the online portal Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) + Business, reporters Boma Brown-West and Alissa Sasso discuss the chemicals policy newly released by electronic commerce (e-commerce) company Amazon as part of its responsible sourcing policy. Amazon, the latest company to join the “retail demand for safer products” (FPF reported), represents not only “the third largest retailer by sales in the U.S.,” but also “the first primarily e-commerce retailer to create a chemicals policy.”
Amazon has also published a Restricted Substances List. In Amazon’s chemicals policy, chemicals of concern are defined as “those chemicals that: 1) meet the criteria for classification as a carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive, or other systemic toxicant; or 2) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.” This definition is similar to that used by other retailers, e.g., Walmart (FPF reported). The specific chemicals to focus on are “strategically prioritize[d] . . . based on product type, customer concerns, and the availability of safer alternatives.” Currently, the chemicals prioritized by Amazon for removal from products include “parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), toluene, and triclosan.”
Read more
Boma Brown-West and Alissa Sasso (October 15, 2018). “Amazon joins Walmart, other major retailers on safer chemicals.” EDF+Business
Mike Schade (October 10, 2018). “Amazon announces new policy to restrict toxic chemicals.” Safer Chemicals, Health Families
References
Amazon (2018). “Responsible sourcing.”
Amazon (2018). “Amazon Chemicals Policy: Restricted Substance List.” (pdf)
