Lowe's Implements a Safer Chemicals Policy

Lowe's introduced a safer chemicals policy, in which it pledged to phase out flooring, insulation, lawn and garden, and paint products with certain chemicals present. Lowe's said it will develop a framework to systematize the process of assessing chemicals and managing chemical risks, either by disclosing the presence of chemicals on product labels or reducing or eliminating chemicals from products, according to a company news release.

Lowe's published its chemical commitments as part of its safer chemicals policy:

Flooring	All vinyl flooring is free of ortho-phthalates All indoor wall-to-wall carpet is free of triclosan, organotins, ortho-phthalates, vinyl chloride, nonylphenol ethoxylates, coal fly ash, formaldehyde, added heavy metals All indoor residential carpet and rugs purchased by Lowe's will be free of PFAS chemicals by January 2020
Insulation	All fiberglass insulation products are free of brominated flame retardants, halogenated flame retardants, antimony trioxide, formaldehyde, and added heavy metals
Lawn & Garden	All of our live good suppliers will discontinue the intentional use of neonicotinoids in their operations, unless required by law, by the end of 2019 All outdoor pesticide products, except Tree & Shrub Care, will be neonicotinoid-free by 2022 Lowe’s will continue to work with our suppliers to explore alternative Tree & Shrub Care chemistries that do not rely on neonicotinoids
Paint	All paint remover products are free of methylene chloride and N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) All interior and exterior water-based wall paints are free of triclosan, isocyanates, formaldehyde, lead and heavy metals

The introduction of the Lowe's safer chemical policy comes after The Home Depot pledged to stop carrying products carrying PFAS chemicals in September. The Home Depot was the first national retailer to take action against PFAS, a group of chemicals research has shown has links to testicular and kidney cancers, decreased birth weights, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, pregnancy-induced hypertension, asthma, and ulcerative colitis.