Target Hears Our Voices and Leads the Way to Safer Products on Store Shelves

Me outside of Target before delivering the SCHF coalition letter and Hazardous 100+ list

Target Takes Big First Steps for Consumers...Expect More. Get More
Who would have thought it would be Target who would shine a light on what has been an otherwise horrid week? This past week has been one of the toughest of my life as I said goodbye to one of my dearest friends and I thought nothing could make me cry anymore but Target is making me shed the happiest of tears.

You may remember that I asked Target to Mind the Store and remove the Hazardous 100 chemicals from consumer goods on their store shelves. You also might remember that they did not answer me or the over 50,000 consumers who signed the letter to the top 10 retailers in the United States asking them to get on board to create Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SCHF). Well that has all changed and I could not be happier. It seems they really do love their consumers and care about their health.

How Target is Taking the Lead in Safer Products for Consumers

Here are some of the highlights of Target’s “Sustainable Products Standard” as written up by my fav girlie Lindsay Dahl, Deputy Director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families:

• The standard works primarily as an incentive program for the manufacturers who sell in their store. Target will systematically rank their manufacturers on how they are doing in regards to chemicals, based on the criteria below. This ranking will be housed at the Good Guide.
• The manufacturers will be given a score, which will be used by Target’s buyers (the people who decide what to sell in their store) and will help guide their purchasing decisions.
• The ranking of products will be based on the following criteria:
• 50% of the score goes to the ingredients used. In order to get the full points the manufacturer cannot use any of the 1,000 unique chemicals identified by the authoritative lists here (all of these chemicals are on our Hazardous 100+ list!)
• 20% of the score goes to transparency. This includes listing full ingredient list on product packaging or the manufacturers website. While not requiring manufacturers to do this, it is a large part of the score and will hopefully move the market towards more transparency and information for consumers.
• 20% of the score for sustainable packaging – to receive the full points for this category the packaging must be recyclable to the majority of consumers, along with other criteria.
• 5% of the score to no animal testing.
• 5% of the score on having minimal impact on water quality – to receive the full points, the product cannot contain any chemicals or ingredients that are toxic to the aquatic environment.
• The products ranked in this standard include: personal care, beauty, baby, and household cleaning.

Can You Send Your Thanks?

I think Target deserves to be given a proverbial "pat on the back" for their commitment to consumer health. Please take a minute and Tweet this post to them at @Target, Like this post on Facebook, or send them a short note of thanks.  When you are done, head over to SCHF and take a look at the work that still needs to be done to create a safer and healthier future for us all.  I will be in DC at the end of this month to create even more awareness around this issue and we need you with us! Sign up for updates form Lindsay at SCHF HERE and spread the word to all your friends and family about the work you are doing...it matters.

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P.S.- People always ask me where I get my organic food and personal care products and I love to tell them about The Green PolkaDot Box! Backed by the Organic Consumer's Association and EnvironmentalBooty.com, you can easily buy NonGMO organic groceries, including Harvest Fresh Organic produce, at wholesale pricing online.  It's like a Sam's club but focused on products for green, healthy living! You can even shop by dietary restrictions like gluten free, vegan or diabetic and it all comes right to your front door. Enjoy!