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.
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 |
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 |
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 |
Membership will be opened in 2012 |
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) |
