Retailer Report Card 2021

D

Canadian Tire

Grade
D
Points
29.5
Out of 164
Rank
31
Out of 50

Subsidiaries of Canadian Tire

  • Mark’s
  • SportChek

Key Findings

  • Canadian Tire demonstrated progress on toxic chemicals in recent years by making its safer chemicals policy publicly available on its website and by being the fifth North American retailer to commit to phasing out paint stripping products containing the toxic chemicals methylene chloride and n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and achieving this commitment by the end of 2018.
  • Canadian Tire also eliminated six phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DNOP) from food contact products (which do not include food packaging); removed heavy metals from children’s, food contact and cosmetics products; eliminated volatile organic compounds from paints; and is completing its transition away from brominated flame retardants in all products.
  • Canadian Tire also adopted the European Union’s (EU) REACH chemical restrictions for apparel under its private labels Mark’s, SportChek and Helly Hansen.

Recommendations for Canadian Tire

  • 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 plastics of environmental health concern (PEHCs) from its product and packaging materials. Canadian Tire should publicly disclose the alternatives used to replace chemicals of high concern (CHCs) or PEHCs after eliminating them.
  • Canadian Tire should extend its efforts to eliminate PFOA and PFOS from water repellency finishes to the entire class of PFAS that may be present in those products and phase out the use of thermal receipt paper containing any bisphenol substance, such as BPS.
  • Canadian Tire should also become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project and pilot it with key private label suppliers. Canadian Tire can also improve in the area of transparency by requiring that fragrance ingredients are disclosed online or on the label of personal care and cleaning products and should take steps to ensure supply chain accountability.

Grade History

2019
D+
2021
D
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How does Canadian Tire compare to its competitors?

Furniture/Home GoodsHome Improvement

Analysis of Canadian Tire

= Excellent
= Some action
= No action

Policy:Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

8.75 out of 23.5 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

1.25 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

12 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

7.5 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