Ahold Delhaize USA advances sustainable chemistry

With emerging science on the potential health and environmental impacts of materials, and consumers looking for products with ingredients that they trust, companies have been committing to removing chemicals of concern from their products beyond relying on regulatory guidance. Ahold Delhaize USA, the largest grocery retailer group on the East Coast, took this step and in their work was the first major retailer in the U.S. to make a commitment to address potential contaminants in products and the latest food packaging concerns.  

Pure Strategies helped Ahold Delhaize USA, the parent company of Giant Food, the Giant Company, Food Lion, Stop & Shop, and Hannaford Supermarkets to develop their sustainable chemistry approach. To do this, we reviewed product and ingredient information, referenced chemical lists, and the latest research and progress on addressing chemicals of concern.  

Our team also used the Chemical Footprint Project survey and other benchmarking tools, along with our experience, to help the company explore how to shape their efforts to address chemicals of concern. Combining the information from the ingredient assessment and program approaches, we worked together to create the new commitment.

Ahold Delhaize USA launched their sustainable chemistry commitment to restrict certain chemicals from its private brand products and packaging and substitute them with safer solutions. Our team also helped the company develop an approach to address materials of concern that can sometimes be unintentionally present in products and food packaging and taking this a step further, to collaborate with its supply chain to address the root causes for potential contaminants to help prevent them from impacting finished products and food packaging.

Three Steps Toward Sustainable Food Products and Packaging 

The sustainable chemistry policy that Ahold Delhaize USA’s companies have adopted outlines sustainable chemistry practices across three key areas:

• Restricting Chemicals of Concern. Ahold Delhaize USA’s companies will restrict the intentional use of chemicals of concern, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Bisphenol A (BPAs), Phthalates, and others on a restricted substance list for a full range of private brand products. The restricted list will ensure that more sustainable options are used.
• Verifying Chemicals of High Priority are Removed. Ahold Delhaize USA’s companies will expand supplier testing requirements to confirm that priority products meet high standards for potential chemicals of concern, using credible certification programs to 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. Ahold Delhaize USA and its local brands will partner with suppliers, agricultural producers, and external organizations to minimize potential contaminants in finished products and expand product ingredient information for consumers to validate trusted brands and products.

Ahold Delhaize USA plans to verify that priority products meet these new stringent requirements through testing and product certification. The company also plans to complete The Chemical Footprint Project survey to ensure that the company’s chemicals management policies and practices are on target toward these goals.

“We were pleased to work with Pure Strategies to help Ahold Delhaize USA commit to sustainable chemistry from farms and fields to production and packaging and to store shelves,” said Brittni Furrow, VP of Sustainable Retailing and Healthy Living for Ahold Delhaize USA. “Sustainable chemistry is a complex and evolving topic, but one that we are committed to addressing in collaboration with others in the best interest of consumers.”