New Scorecard Warns: U.S. Food Retailers Lag on Reducing Harmful Pesticides – Perishable News

2025 Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard Highlights Sustainable Development Challenges

Introduction

Friends of the Earth has released its 2025 Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard, a national assessment evaluating how the largest U.S. grocery retailers address toxic pesticides in their supply chains. This report emphasizes the critical role of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), life on land (SDG 15), and good health and well-being (SDG 3).

Retailer Performance and Sustainable Practices

The Scorecard assesses 25 top grocery retailers on their commitments and progress in reducing pesticides linked to declines in pollinators, biodiversity, soil health, and human health. Key findings include:

1. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) achieved an “A-” grade, becoming the second company after Whole Foods to reach the “A” range. Sprouts introduced a new commitment to pollinator health, aiming to reduce toxic pesticide use and enhance organic sales, supporting SDG 12 and SDG 15.
2. Costco (NASDAQ: COST) improved from a “C” to a “B+” due to strong organic sales and progress in implementing its pollinator health policy.
3. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) advanced from an “F” to a “D-” based on organic product offerings and third-party certifications.

Organic Sales as a Sustainable Benchmark

• The USDA Organic seal remains the most trusted standard for reduced pesticide use, prohibiting over 900 synthetic pesticides harmful to pollinators, soil, and human health.
• Organic sales are a key differentiator for retailers, aligning with SDG 12 by promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Challenges and Risks in Pesticide Management

Retailers Lagging Behind

Despite increasing consumer demand for safer food, several major retailers show insufficient progress:

• Six companies including Albertsons, Aldi, CVS, Kroger, Southeastern Grocers, and Target lost points for inadequate communication on pollinator health commitments.
• Target’s rating dropped from “D-” to “F,” joining other low-scoring retailers such as Wegmans, BJ’s Wholesale Club, H-E-B, Walgreens, Hy-Vee, Dollar General, Publix, and Wakefern.

Consumer Concerns and Pesticide Exposure

• National polls indicate rising consumer demand for organic and pesticide-free products, with expectations for retailer transparency.
• Investigative studies revealed toxic pesticides, including neurotoxins, hormone disruptors, and PFAS “forever chemicals,” in Target’s baby food products, raising serious health concerns (SDG 3).

Financial and Supply Chain Risks

A recent analysis estimates that pesticide-dependent agriculture exposes the U.S. food retail sector to $219 billion in climate, financial, and biodiversity risks, impacting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

• Pollinator decline threatens crop yields for apples, cherries, and other produce, risking supply constraints and price volatility.
• Retailers have significant influence to drive systemic change toward sustainable agriculture.

Retailer Rankings and Scores

Broader Impacts of Pesticides

Environmental and Human Health Threats

• Common pesticides threaten soil organisms essential for carbon sequestration, water conservation, and climate resilience, directly impacting SDG 13 and SDG 15.
• Human health is compromised from farmworkers’ daily exposure to consumers ingesting pesticide residues, with infants and children particularly vulnerable (SDG 3).
• Current federal standards inadequately protect these vulnerable populations.

Retailers’ Role in Driving Sustainable Change

The largest grocery retailers, including Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Amazon, Albertsons, and Target, control approximately $754 billion in annual grocery sales. This market power positions them to lead pesticide reduction efforts and promote sustainable agricultural practices aligned with SDG 12 and SDG 15.

Collaborative Efforts

• The Bee-Friendly Retailer campaign is supported by over 100 organizations spanning beekeeping, farming, farmworker, consumer, and environmental sectors.
• Initiatives such as the Campaign for Healthier Solutions work to eliminate hazardous chemicals from retail environments, fostering safer communities and ecosystems.

Conclusion

Friends of the Earth continues to advocate for environmental protection and social justice by holding corporations accountable and promoting sustainable food and agriculture systems. The 2025 Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard underscores the urgent need for retailers to align their operations with the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure a healthy planet and population.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses the impact of pesticides on food production, pollinators, and soil health, which are critical to sustainable agriculture and food security.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Concerns about toxic pesticides affecting human health, including neurotoxins and hormone disruptors, highlight the relevance to health and well-being.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article emphasizes consumer demand for organic and pesticide-free products and retailer commitments to reducing hazardous pesticides in supply chains.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Pesticides threaten soil organisms essential for carbon sequestration and climate resilience, linking to climate action goals.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The decline of pollinators and biodiversity due to pesticide use directly relates to protecting terrestrial ecosystems.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, help maintain ecosystems, and strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks.
   • Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Percentage of retailers with policies to reduce hazardous pesticide use
   • Implied by the Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard ratings and commitments to pollinator health policies.
2. Organic sales as a proportion of total sales
   • Used as a key differentiator and indicator of reduced pesticide use (e.g., USDA Organic seal).
3. Presence of toxic pesticides in food products
   • Measured by investigative testing detecting pesticides in baby food and other products.
4. Pollinator population trends and biodiversity indicators
   • Implied by references to pollinator declines linked to pesticide use and impacts on crop yields.
5. Financial risk estimates related to pesticide-dependent agriculture
   • Estimated $219 billion in climate, financial, and biodiversity risks for the food retail sector.
6. Consumer awareness and demand for organic/pesticide-free products
   • Indicated by national polling data showing rising consumer concern.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: perishablenews.com