Good Choices

Report: More retail stores reducing PFAS in products, packaging

By Tracy Samilton

An environmental group says many retail stores are improving their policies to reduce harmful chemicals in products.
The Ecology Center says that's especially true for a class of chemicals known as PFAS.

The Center's Jeff Gearhart says PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they persist in the environment for hundreds and even thousands of years.

"I really think we need to demand action from retailers on this issue because of the impact it's having both in Michigan and around the country," says Gearhart. "It's no longer acceptable for retailers to be silent on that. It's no longer acceptable for them to not be evaluating their whole product portfolio on this."

The Ecology Center report says Whole Foods, Home Depot, Panera Bread and Trader Joe's have recently begun to phase out PFAS in at least some of the products or packaging of the products they sell.

This article originally appeared in Michigan Radio on November 28, 2019. Read it here.