Member Update: Walmart Issues New Guidance for Complying with On-Pack Disclosure Requirements
November 30, 2017
Walmart initially launched its Sustainable Chemistry Policy for Consumable Products in 2013 and the company has continued to refine this policy. It covers a broad range of household cleaners, cosmetics skincare items, and infant products, among others. The policy has three primary areas of focus:
Transparency
Online ingredient disclosure beginning in 2015
Listing priority chemicals on-pack beginning in 2018
Enhanced Formulation
Reduce, restrict and eliminate the use of priority chemicals using informed substitution (10% reduction by 2022)
More Sustainable Products; encouraging the use of third-party verification programs that lend credibility to green chemistry and safer substitutions
U.S. EPA’s Safer Choice Program
EWG Verified
Cradle to Cradle (silver or above)
Recognizing a general lack of supplier awareness of Walmart’s existing requirement for on-pack disclosure of certain chemicals as well as the lack of consistency with the recently enacted California ingredient disclosure law (SB 258), CSPA took the lead in working cooperatively with Walmart to develop a new practical approach for complying with the policy requirements.
This week, Walmart issued new guidance for complying with the policy’s on-pack ingredient disclosure requirements. Walmart now provides three options for complying with the on-pack disclosure requirement:
On-pack disclosure of chemicals listed on the Walmart reference list of priority chemicals.
Product labels that comply with the on-label format and content of the new California law (SB 258) will meet Walmart’s on-pack disclosure expectations.
Walmart recognizes that there is a difference between the Walmart Priority Chemical List and the Chemicals on California SB 258 designated list.
Use of the California SB 258 designated list will meet Walmart’s expectations.
Products regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that are within scope already meet Walmart’s expectations.
Companies will be allowed to update labels on a rolling refresh basis and FIFRA-registered products that are within Walmart’s scope will need to comply with the on-pack requirement only when the manufacturer makes another change to their label that requires EPA review. Walmart encourages suppliers to communicate their on-pack disclosure implementation plan (by product and brand) to Walmart as soon as possible.
On October 31, Walmart presented a webinar to provide an updated overview of their Sustainable Chemistry Policy. For a copy of the webinar slide deck click here. To watch the recorded webinar session click here.
Walmart initially launched its Sustainable Chemistry Policy for Consumable Products in 2013 and the company has continued to refine this policy. It covers a broad range of household cleaners, cosmetics skincare items, and infant products, among others. The policy has three primary areas of focus:
Recognizing a general lack of supplier awareness of Walmart’s existing requirement for on-pack disclosure of certain chemicals as well as the lack of consistency with the recently enacted California ingredient disclosure law (SB 258), CSPA took the lead in working cooperatively with Walmart to develop a new practical approach for complying with the policy requirements.
This week, Walmart issued new guidance for complying with the policy’s on-pack ingredient disclosure requirements. Walmart now provides three options for complying with the on-pack disclosure requirement:
Companies will be allowed to update labels on a rolling refresh basis and FIFRA-registered products that are within Walmart’s scope will need to comply with the on-pack requirement only when the manufacturer makes another change to their label that requires EPA review. Walmart encourages suppliers to communicate their on-pack disclosure implementation plan (by product and brand) to Walmart as soon as possible.
On October 31, Walmart presented a webinar to provide an updated overview of their Sustainable Chemistry Policy. For a copy of the webinar slide deck click here. To watch the recorded webinar session click here.