BY AMY ZIFF
When Amazon moves, the world moves. As the third largest retailer in the world, the message they send to manufacturers and sellers can be game changing. Amazon is notoriously taking on all kinds of retailers and is number 53 on the Forbes Global 2000 list (jumping 154 spots), as one of the most powerful and influential public companies. This month Amazon kicked off it’s first ever safer chemicals policy, as part of their sustainability and responsible sourcing efforts.
To learn more, see how our friends at Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families broke down in what ways Amazon’s policy takes a stand and where they can continue to work and expand.
It’s exciting to see the behemoth that is Amazon begin to tackle this issue. As a starting point, their policy will restrict dozens of toxic phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde releasers, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), triclosan, and toluene in its own private label brand baby, household cleaning, personal care, and beauty products in the United States, according to Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.
Of course, those chemicals are never permitted in MADE SAFE certified products, along with thousands of other harmful chemicals. But the point is not the number of chemicals Amazon is starting with, but rather that they are starting at all.
With this move Amazon is recognizing that a growing segment of consumers increasingly demand products without harmful ingredients – and Amazon wants those shoppers to be able to find what they’re looking for and purchase them ON Amazon!
As part of that effort, we’re thrilled to be singled out as one of the credible third-party seals that Amazon will prioritize for shoppers. The company plans to create features to help consumers shop for products that are certified to be better, safer and more sustainable.
Not only is this a win for Made Safe, it’s a win for consumers everywhere. The more Made Safe products there are in the world, the less polluting, harmful and toxic products we have out in the ecosystem. And consumers will have expanded access to safer products. Win. Win. Win.
Thank you, Amazon for recognizing what we’ve known all along—that doing right and doing good is the only way to do business.