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In its latest move to make products and packaging more sustainable, Retail Business Services implemented a new sustainable chemistry commitment. Retail Business Services is the services company of Ahold Delhaize USA, currently providing services to six East Coast grocery brands, including Food Lion, Giant Food, GIANT/MARTIN’S, Hannaford and Stop & Shop, as well as the country’s largest online grocery retailer, Peapod. Under the new commitment, Retail Business Services will restrict certain chemicals from products and packaging, work with suppliers to ensure products meet high standard for ingredients, beyond what’s required by law today, and collaborate with suppliers to address the root causes of contaminants.

“Providing private brand products with ingredients consumers can feel good about is core to our mission in Retail Business Services,” said Juan De Paoli, SVP Private Brands. “We have already begun testing products and will begin reporting on our progress toward removing chemicals of concern in 2020 as part of The Chemical Footprint Project.”

The sustainable chemistry policy that Retail Business Services and Ahold Delhaize USA’s local brands have adopted outlines sustainable chemistry practices across three key areas:

• Restricting Chemicals of Concern. Retail Business Services 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. Retail Business Services 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. Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands are 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. Retail Business Services, Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands 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.

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.