Amazon announces ban on toxic chemical compounds and plastics in foods packaging

PFAS, phthalates, BPA are between the harmful substances Amazon Kitchen area brands now prohibit

Amazon joins a growing craze of businesses removing poisonous chemicals in meals packaging

MEDIA Make contact with
Stephanie Stohler
Communications Director
[email protected]

SEATTLE, WA – These days Amazon introduced that it will ban certain harmful chemical substances and plastics in the meals packaging resources used for its Amazon Kitchen area brand name. Harmful chemical substances PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), phthalates, BPA (bisphenol A) and other bisphenols, and the plastics polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) are now limited in specified non-public-label foods get in touch with resources. Amazon’s new dedication is the most recent update to the substances plan it 1st released in 2018, which also restricts toxic chemicals in private-label child, residence cleansing, individual care, and elegance products and solutions as well as brand name-identify paint-elimination goods.

“Amazon’s new policy determination signals a developing retail sustainability craze,” explains Mind the Retail store Marketing campaign Director Mike Schade in response to today’s announcement. “In the previous calendar year alone, we have witnessed far more than a 50 %-dozen foodstuff shops from across the country committing to safer choices when it comes to food stuff packaging supplies. It is plainly feasible to do, and nonetheless some main chains like McDonald’s, Kroger, and Costco have not stood up for the overall health of their customers or the setting.”

“No company ought to be utilizing chemical compounds that can impair a person’s immune technique, especially as we are battling a worldwide pandemic,” states Executive Director of Harmful-Free Upcoming Laurie Valeriano in response to Amazon’s new RSL produced these days. “Amazon is smart to be obtaining in front of regulatory bans that are shortly coming their way, like in their household state of Washington. As we continue on to battle for essential governing administration procedures to safeguard us versus harmful chemical compounds in food items packaging, it’s welcome news to see how businesses, like Amazon, are stepping up to do what is appropriate.”

“Market leaders like Amazon know that children thrive on nutritious foodstuff that is free of charge from poisonous chemical substances that escape from packaging,” says Mike Belliveau, Govt Director of Protect Our Wellbeing. “Further cutting down the use of chemical substances like phthalates and PFAS that may perhaps hurt brain growth could assist halt the epidemic of mastering and developmental disabilities our youngsters presently suffer.”

Amazon’s new restricted compound listing (RSL) applies to its Amazon Kitchen area brand goods marketed in Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh new, and Contemporary grocery shipping and delivery. It does not utilize to other private-label or Amazon brand name-identify foods call supplies. Today’s announcement arrives five months after a class-motion lawsuit was submitted, alleging PFAS was existing in Amazon personal-label disposable plates, which are not involved in this new restriction.

Amazon’s recently released listing of limited chemical compounds also involves perchlorate, benzophenone, direct, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and the solvents NMP (N-Methylpyrrolidone), 2-Ethoxyethanol, 2-Methoxyethanol, and toluene. In addition to PVC, PS, and EPS, the firm also introduced it is prohibiting the adhering to non-recyclable plastics in its foodstuff get in touch with packaging: polycarbonates (Laptop), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), rigid polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhyrdoxyalkanoates (PHAs).

Some state and local governments are going to stage out courses of poisonous chemical substances in meals packaging, these kinds of as PFAS and phthalates, in favor of safer alternatives. Over the past two several years, Washington and Maine have enacted section-outs of PFAS in food stuff packaging that go into influence January 1, 2022 or as before long as safer options are offered. Maine’s new regulation also prohibits the use of phthalates in food stuff packaging and food items handling gloves successful January 1, 2022. And, most recently, New York’s Governor signed a invoice banning the use of PFAS in food packaging which normally takes outcome at the conclude of 2022. Federal legislation to ban PFAS in foods packaging, the Preserve Foods Containers Secure from PFAS Act, has been introduced by U.S. Consultant Debbie Dingell.

As portion of Brain the Store’s exploration for its yearly retailer report, it was identified that prime foodstuff stores are progressively adopting safer chemicals procedures to minimize and eradicate harmful chemical compounds. About the earlier two many years, Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, Cava, Chipotle, Freshii, Kroger, Panera Bread, Sweetgreen, Trader Joe’s, and Full Meals Industry introduced methods to minimize or eradicate particular poisonous substances in food packaging at in excess of 17,000 outlets. A current report printed by the Intellect the Retail outlet campaign and Harmful-Free of charge Potential discovered main quickly-foodstuff chains these kinds of as McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s nonetheless probably serve up toxic PFAS with some of their most well known takeout foodstuff.

Amazon previously gained a grade of C+ in the 2019 “Who’s Minding the Keep?” Retailer Report Card.

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Thoughts THE Retail store Marketing campaign

The national Head the Keep campaign issues large merchants to remove harmful substances and replace them with safer alternate options. The marketing campaign publishes the once-a-year retailer report card that benchmarks and scores key suppliers on their safer chemical substances insurance policies and implementation systems. The fifth once-a-year report will be produced in the to start with quarter of 2021. www.mindthestore.org and www.retailerreportcard.org

Harmful-Free of charge Upcoming

Toxic-Free Upcoming advocates for the use of safer products and solutions, chemical substances, and methods through advanced study, grassroots arranging, and consumer engagement to ensure a healthier tomorrow. www.toxicfreefuture.org