Toxic chemicals watchdog “Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families” has awarded Apple an A+ grade in its latest “Mind the Store” rankings. The organization ranks retailers according to their use of toxic chemicals in their products, and what efforts they are making to reduce them.
Apple’s efforts to reduce its use on toxic chemicals has seen the company top environmental rankings by the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families organization. It’s the second year Apple has come out best in this report but its continuing work has also seen its grade rise from an A to an A+.
“Apple has made impressive strides in this area,” reads the report, “not only maintaining and frequently updating a Beyond Restricted Substance List (Apple’s Regulated Substances Specification or RSS) but also aiming for full material disclosure of its private-label products to analyze every component in the products it sells, with more than 25,000 out of 50,000 reviewed so far.”
The organization is comprised of 450 businesses. They issue an annual “Mind the Store” report, and have been doing so for the last three years. The report provides a point score and an overall grade. This year Apple earned 106.25 out of a possible 135 points.
Summary of Apple’s Grade
Policy: 16.25 out of 17.5 points – Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policyOversight: 7.5 out of 7.5 points – Established management responsibilities and incentives
Accountability: 10 out of 10 points – Ensures supply chain accountability
Disclosure: 7.5 out of 10 points – Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer
Action: 13.5 out of 15 points – Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern within the last three years
Safer Alternatives: 10 out of 10 points – Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes
Transparency: 9 out of 15 points – Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure
Chemical Footprint: 0 out of 7.5 points – Evaluates its chemical footprint
Third-party Standards: 7.5 out of 7.5 points – Promotes credible third party standards for safer products
Extra Credit:
Joint Announcement: 0 out of 5 points – Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement
Continuous Improvement: 15 out of 15 points – Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy
Safer Products: 0 out of 5 points – Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website
Collaboration: 5 out of 5 points – Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals
Impact Investment: 5 out of 5 points – Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions
The report notes that Apple has room for improvement. “Apple can make even more progress by setting transparent public, quantifiable goals with specific timelines for reducing and eliminating chemicals of concern and expanding its Full Material Disclosure initiative to brand name products sold in Apple stores and on Apple.com.”
Apple was the only company in the rankings this year to earn an A+ rating. Target was the sole A grade recipient, while Ikea and Walmart both received A- grades. Best Buy and Amazon both received C grades.
