Focus and the Environment

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

CHEMICALS

POLICY AIM

As a major national retailer of DIY and gardening products, FOCUS recognises that some of the chemicals used in products and their packaging may, when released into the environment, have the potential to cause long-term harm to the environment or human health. Therefore, progressively, we will aim to identify and eliminate, or reduce to a safe level, any such substances occurring in our products.

POLICY STATEMENT

1. FOCUS will comply with all legislation and codes of practice regarding the use of chemicals in products and their packaging as a minimum.

2. FOCUS will maintain a list of Chemicals of Concern, derived from official and stakeholder lists.

3. FOCUS will identify progressively and maintain a register of own-brand products that contain FOCUS Chemicals of Concern.

4. FOCUS will take steps to eliminate substances on the Chemicals of Concern list, on a prioritised basis, from own brand products.

5. Priority for action of FOCUS Chemicals of Concern will be based on the extent to which the chemical content of a product poses a risk to human health or the environment during its use or in disposal, as determined through a risk assessment process.

6. FOCUS supports the principle of a ‘full right to know’ and will, on request, seek to provide information to customers about the chemical content of a specified product.

7. FOCUS expects suppliers of proprietary branded products to take responsibility for chemicals that cause harm to the environment or human health and to mitigate the use of FOCUS Chemicals of Concern.

8. Suppliers of new own brand products will be required to disclose the presence and quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the products they intend to supply. All relevant own brand products will carry VOC labels and labelling of proprietary products is encouraged.

9. Suppliers of new own brand products will be required to disclose the presence and quantities of FOCUS Chemicals of Concern in the products and packaging they intend to supply.

10. The chemical content of new own brand products and their packaging will be examined as part of the normal range review process, with the aim of eliminating, or reducing to a safe level, any FOCUS Chemicals of Concern in proposed own brand products. 11. FOCUS will review its strategy periodically and report progress annually via its website.

12. This Policy will be reviewed and assessed annually.