In its latest move to make its private brand products and packaging more sustainable, Food Lion has made a new sustainable chemistry commitment.
Working in partnership with Retail Business Services, which develops private brand products for each of the Ahold Delhaize USA local brands, Food Lion will restrict certain chemicals from products and packaging, work with suppliers to ensure products meet high standards for ingredients beyond what’s required by law today and collaborate with suppliers to address root causes of contaminants.
“Food Lion is committed to caring for our customers and our communities. This sustainable chemistry commitment is just one more way we are demonstrating that care through our sustainability initiatives,” says Meg Ham, president of Food Lion. “Food Lion has always been committed to making available the best products for our customers to nourish their families and today we are taking that commitment one step further.”
Food Lion, which is based in Salisbury, North Carolina, has adopted this new sustainable chemistry policy which outlines sustainable chemistry practices across three key areas:
- Restricting chemicals of concern – Food Lion will restrict the intentional use of chemicals of concern and place chemicals of concern, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Bisphenol A (BPAs), phthalates and more on a restricted substance list for a full range of private brand products. The restricted list will cover both private brand products and food packaging for these products and work will focus on ensuring more sustainable substitutes for chemicals of concern are used.
- Verifying chemicals of high priority are removed – Food Lion will expand supplier testing requirements beginning in 2020 to confirm that priority products meet its high standards, beyond what is required by U.S. law, for potential chemicals of concern. Food Lion is committed to using credible certification programs that further address priority materials for coffee, tea and cocoa products with Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade or organic programs.
- Collaborating with suppliers to address root causes of contaminants – Food Lion will partner with suppliers, agricultural producers and external organizations to research and act to minimize the occurrence of potential contaminants of concern in finished products and to advance greener chemistry options. Additionally, the companies are expanding product ingredient information provided to consumers, beyond what is required by law, to support the selection of trusted brands and products.
Beginning in 2020, Food Lion, along with its parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA, will participate in The Chemical Footprint Project, reporting annually on progress toward the commitment.
Food Lion will also monitor emerging information and reports to ensure that its restricted substance lists are updated on a regular basis. The work builds upon a commitment that Retail Business Services made last year to remove all synthetic colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, sweeteners, MSG and high-fructose corn syrup from all private brands products by 2025.
