Sustainable Chemistry Implementation Guide Section 6: Appendices
The following authoritative and regulatory lists may be used as resources to identify Walmart Priority Chemicals for reduction, restriction, or elimination in accordance with Walmart's Sustainable Chemistry in Consumables. These lists meet the criteria specified in Appendix 2 and have been selected by Walmart to contribute to the universe of Priority Chemicals tracked for reduction.
European Union |
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International Agency for Research on Cancer |
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U.N. Environment Program |
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U.S. EPA |
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U.S. National Toxicology Program |
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U.S. State of California |
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U.S. State of Maine |
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U.S. State of Minnesota |
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U.S. State of Washington |
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Walmart relies on authoritative hazard identification and regulatory lists to identify Priority Chemicals for reduction, restriction, or elimination in accordance with Walmart's Commitment to Sustainable Chemistry in Formulated Consumables. We work with credible third-party organizations and leverage regulatory and authoritative resources to guide our approach.
The following criteria are used when evaluating whether to adopt a Reference List to help define the universe of Priority Chemicals:
- The listing entity must be authoritative, meaning it is authorized to identify chemical hazards by state, national or international law and operates with publicly-disclosed listing criteria and procedures.
- The list must address hazard or exposure traits that potentially pose serious effects to human health or the environment. A priority chemical is a chemical that meets the criteria for classification as a carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive toxicant, or is persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic; or any chemical for which there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health or the environment which give rise to an equivalent level of concern.
- The list must be publicly available from the listing entity.
Note: Chemicals on a Reference List may be excluded from the PC universe if any of the following criteria are met:
- The chemical is listed subject to conditions identified by the listing entity. If these conditions are not met in the context of the product categories included in Consumables, the chemical may be excluded from the PC universe.
Walmart relies on the UL ChemAdvisor LOLI Chemical Registry Database to track the Reference Lists of Priority Chemicals. UL PurView distributes current versions of the Priority Chemical list to suppliers.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of safer ingredient databases, alternative assessments, and alternative assessment tools, methodologies and consulting services that suppliers may use to advance the safer formulation of products using informed substitutions.
Safer Alternative Ingredient Databases
Database & URL | Description | Product Category Focus (# ingredients profiled) | Filters Available | Quality of Alternatives Assessment |
Database of chemical ingredients, arranged by functional-use class, that the EPA Safer Choice Program has evaluated and determined to be safer than traditional chemical ingredients. | Cleaning Products Personal Care Products Lubricants & Adhesives (430) | Technical function Ingredients classified into full and half Green Circle, Yellow Triangle, Grey square | High - Third-party profilers (e.g., NSF or ToxServices) gathers hazard information and submits a report to Safer Choice, with a recommendation on whether the chemical passes the Criteria for Safer Chemical Ingredients. | |
Database of market-ready ingredients pre-approved to meet EPA’s Safer Choice Standard | Cleaning Products | Technical function | High – Relies on EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List | |
Resource for ingredient nomenclature, regulatory status, and functions. | Cleaning Products | Technical function | High – Relies on EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List | |
Provides hazard, use, and exposure information on 177,184 chemicals and 214 different kinds of building products | Building & Construction (175,000) | Technical function Compound groups | Medium – Includes results of certified Green Screen assessments | |
Subscription-based chemical hazard screening platform that profiles ingredient hazards and safer substitutes | Beauty & Personal Care, Electronics, Packaging, Plastics, Plastic Additives | Manufacturer, Sector, Technical function | Medium – Chemical hazard assessments are performed by independent assessors who meet and maintain ChemFORWARDqualification requirements | |
Global ingredient marketplace database with safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals | Building & Construction (682) Textiles (130) Personal care & Cosmetics (55) Food Contact Materials (51) Household chemicals (35) Electronics (20) | Sector of use Technical function Evaluated alternatives-alternatives-requests Standards or certifications | Low – Suppliers post ingredient profiles and are responsible for their claims, which are not validated by ChemSec | |
Global ingredient marketplace database with some supplier-provided safer alternatives attributes or claims | Adhesives & Sealants (8,000) Food Beverage & Nutrition (30,500) Graphic Arts (1,500) Household Cleaners (2720) Lubricants & Metalworking (1,290) Paint & Coatings (835) Personal Care & Cosmetics (10,000+) Plastics (100,000+) Metals (11,100) | Technical function Chemical class Formulation types | Low – no tags identify safer alternatives |
Collections of Alternatives Assessments for Specific Product - Chemical Use Cases
Database & URL | Description | Product Category Focus (# ingredients profiled) | Filters Available | Quality of Alternatives Assessment |
Publishes results of specific alternatives assessment partnership projects that the Design for the Environment program has conducted in support of TSCA programs | Cleaning Products Articles treated with flame retardants Thermal paper products | Alternatives to Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, Flame Retardants Used in Flexible Polyurethane Foam/in Printed Circuit Boards, Flame Retardant Alternatives to DecaBDE/HBCD, Bisphenol A in Thermal Paper | High – Results from multi-stakeholder process following DfE Alternatives Assessment Criteria for Hazard Evaluation | |
List of research reports driven by the needs of Massachusetts industry for safer alternatives | Multiple | TURI Safer Alternatives to Halogenated Solvents Used in Surface Cleaning Applications | High | |
Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse Alternatives Assessment Library and Chemical Hazard Assessment Database | List of publicly available alternatives assessments with case studies. Database enables users to search for GreenScreen® and Quick Chemical Assessment Tool assessments | Multiple | Medium – Quality varies by source of assessment |
Alternatives Assessment Tools, Methodologies & Consulting Services
Methodology/Service | Offering | Level of Domain Expertise Required for Use |
Rapid screening assessment tool for chemical substances. The screening evaluation results in three outcomes: of high concern, possibly of high concern, and unknown. GSLT is meant to prioritize chemicals for a more comprehensive assessment using the full GreenScreen® method | Medium | |
GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals | Comprehensive chemical hazard assessment method developed by the nonprofit group Clean Production Action. Publicly available GS assessments are listed on the GreenScreen Assessment Registry | High – Assessments are conducted by Licensed GreenScreen Profilers. |
Provides automated restricted substance list (RSL) review, hazard evaluation, exposure assessment (human health and environmental) and risk assessment over the life cycle of the product. User can process potential substitutes through the RSL, hazard, exposure, and risk steps to identify preferred alternatives. | High - Assessments are conducted by Scivera toxicologists and support a variety of sector (e.g., ZDHC, EPEAT, LHAMA) or supplier (e.g., Nike, Intel, Costco) green chemistry standards. | |
List of tools and methods for conducting alternatives assessment | Very High | |
Lists substitution and alternatives assessment tools and data sources | Very High | |
National Academy of Science developed A Framework to Guide Selection of Chemical Alternatives to help interested parties find safer chemical substitutes | Medium | |
BizNGO Chemical Alternatives Assessment Protocol | Decision framework for substituting chemicals of concern to human health or the environment with safer alternatives. It describes a process for identifying alternatives to a chemical of concern, screening out equally hazardous alternatives, and selecting an alternative that is technically and economically viable and does not have the potential for causing significant environmental or human health impacts | Medium |
Academic analysis of alternatives assessment frameworks: identifies consistencies and differences in methods and outlines needs for research and collaboration to advance science policy practice | Medium |
