Retailer Report Card 2021

F

Ace Hardware

Grade
F
Points
5.25
Out of 164
Rank
44
Out of 50

Key Findings

  • Ace Hardware is largely failing to publicly address toxic chemicals that may be in the products it sells.
  • In 2019, the retailer followed the lead of its peers in stopping the sale of chemical paint removers containing two especially dangerous chemicals, the only source of points in this scorecard. The retailer otherwise has not made any significant public-facing commitments.

Recommendations for Ace Hardware

  • Ace Hardware can make progress by developing a public written safer chemicals policy, developing and enforcing a public beyond restricted substance list (BRSL), and setting public quantifiable goals with clear timelines for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern (CHCs) and/or plastics of environmental health concern (PEHCs).
  • We urge the company to eliminate and safely replace any per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic flame retardants, and phthalates that may be in the products it sells. The company should also eliminate PEHCs from its product and packaging materials. Ace Hardware should publicly disclose the alternatives used to replace CHCs or PEHCs after eliminating them.
  • The company should become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project and pilot it with key private label suppliers.

Grade History

2017
F
2018
F
2019
F
2021
F
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How does Ace Hardware compare to its competitors?

Home Improvement

Analysis of Ace Hardware

= Excellent
= Some action
= No action

Policy:Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

1.25 out of 23.5 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

0 out of 5 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

0 out of 15 points

Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer

0 out of 17.5 points

Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern (CHCs) or plastics of environmental health concern (PEHCs) within the last three years

3 out of 26 points

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

0 out of 16 points

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

1 out of 20 points

Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

0 out of 7.5 points

Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third-party standards for safer products

0 out of 8.5 points

Extra Credit:

Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

0 out of 5 points

Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy

0 out of 10 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

0 out of 5 points

Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions

0 out of 5 points