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REI earns ‘F’ grade in new scorecard on toxic “forever chemicals” commitments by major retailers

By April 7, 2022July 26th, 2022PFAS in the news

Today, NRDC, Fashion FWD, and U.S. PIRG Education Fund released a scorecard ranking PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) policy commitments from 30 popular retail and apparel brands, giving REI a failing ‘F’ grade for its incomplete commitment that excluded many PFAS (also known as ‘forever chemicals’). Conversely, competitor Patagonia earned a ‘B’—the highest grade of all the outdoor apparel brands surveyed—and is the only outdoor brand with a commitment to phase out all PFAS in all products by 2024.

Today’s scorecard follows Toxic-Free Future’s original testing, which made national headlines in January 2022, finding PFAS in most stain- and water-resistant products—including items purchased at REI and other retailers. The announcement also follows a peer-reviewed study led by scientists at Toxic-Free Future, the University of Washington, and Indiana University that found PFAS in 100% of breast milk samples tested and that newer PFAS build up in people. Toxic-Free Future’s September 2021 investigative report revealed that a U.S. PFAS manufacturing facility is a major source of both PFAS pollution and ozone-depleting chemicals that contribute to health problems and climate change. Read more…