Engaging Retailers in the Adoption of Safer Products

For the last 4 years a project group of the GC3 has been dedicated to engaging retailers in the adoption of safer products.  Retailers play a key role in leading the movement towards supply chain initiatives and policies that ensure that data on chemicals in products are available and that the products sold use the safest chemicals and materials.

In December 2009 Best Practices in Product Chemicals Management in the Retail Industry was published providing guidelines to retailers developing product chemicals management systems within their retail operation.  These guidelines were based on experiences and lessons from a cross section of retailers who have these systems in place. 

In May 2011 a meeting for the retail sector was held: Product Chemicals Management for Retailers: Moving Beyond Compliance Toward Safer, Less-Toxic Product Lines to discuss the drivers of safer products, challenges and opportunities to enhance product chemicals management, and systems to manage chemical ingredients in products. 

In September 2011 the Retailer Portal Database: Tools to Evaluate Chemical Ingredients in Products and its companion document was published.  This is a database of tools that enables 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. 

Later in 2011 two more projects were completed: Retailer Chemicals Policy Efforts showcases policies many retailers have developed to address chemical hazards in products as part of their sustainability initiatives; and Retail Initiatives on Safer Products is an inventory of initiatives and organizations relevant to retailers that are advancing sustainability with a focus on safer chemicals and products.

2012-2013

Two main areas of project focus arose for the Engaging Retailers in the Adoption of Safer Products project group at the 2012 GC3 Annual Innovators Roundtable. 

An Educational Program for Retailers

An educational webinar series for retailers and their supply chains is being developed to make green chemistry and safer products relevant to more retailers, to introduce them to tools available for safer product selection, and to highlight retailers that are leaders in this field.  The first webinar was held in April 2012 and four are planned for the coming year.  Upcoming webinars include:

• Understanding the FTC Green Guides
• The BizNGO Implementation Guide And How It Can Be Used To Develop a Corporate Wide Program
• Educating Employees about Green Chemistry and Product Sustainability from Buyers to Floor Associates
• TBD: An introductory webinar for the Retailer Summit

GC3 2nd National Summit for Retailers – May 7, 2013 in New York City

A national summit for retailers will be held as a follow up to the retailer meeting organized May 2011.  This one day summit will be held in May 7 2013, in conjunction with the 8th GC3 Annual Innovators Roundtable, at the Time & Life Building in New York City.

Plan now to attend this unique and dynamic meeting which will address:

• Drivers for safer, greener products and the retailers’ role in promoting  this transition
• Tools for retailers to assess, select, and specify safer chemicals and products
• Effective communication with customers about safer, greener products
• Retailer challenges in working with global supply chains to improve chemicals management

REGISTER FOR THE SUMMIT FOR RETAILERS ONLINE TODAY!

For more information or to join the project group, contact Sally Edwards.

Upcoming call information, call notes, and working documents are available to
members in the GC3 Members Area.

Become a Member to gain access to the GC3 Members Area.