Giant Eagle

In September, 2020, Giant Eagle released a written, publicly available pollinator health policy which was expanded in August, 2021. The policy requires produce suppliers to eliminate use of nitroguanidine neonicotinoids by 2025 and encourages them to reduce or eliminate use of organophosphates. It asks growers to avoid replacing one hazardous chemical for another and links to a list of regrettable substitutes. The policy also requires all national and global produce suppliers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) practices by 2025. To achieve this, Giant Eagle asks growers to get certified to one of a list of vetted third party certifications with meaningful IPM criteria: USDA certified organic and international organic labels that meet the USDA standard for equivalency; Bee Better Certified; Equitable Food Initiative (EFI); Fair Trade International; Fair Trade USA – Year 6 and beyond; Global G.A.P – Integrated Farm Assurance V5, V6; LEAF Marque; Rainforest Alliance; Sustainable Food Group Sustainability Standard; Sustainability Grown (SCS Global Services). Some of these certifications also have restrictions on pesticides of concern. Suppliers who are not able to get certified are required to create an IPM plan that meets key, stringent criteria which will be reviewed by an external entity with expertise in IPM. The policy includes a clear definition of IPM as “a pest management framework that minimizes pesticide use and risks by: relying on inspection and monitoring to detect and correct conditions that could lead to pest problems; implementing biological, cultural and physical strategies to prevent and suppress pest populations; using chemical controls only as a last resort and when economically justified; and assessing pesticide risks and prioritizing the lowest risk options.” Giant Eagle’s policy recognizes the benefit of organic agriculture to eliminate use of toxic pesticides and states that the company is committed to grow the number and variety of organic items available in its stores.

Giant Eagle could further expand its policy by addressing additional pesticides of concern and/or by addressing use of pollinator-toxic pesticides and use of least-toxic agriculture methods in food or beverage supply chains beyond produce.

Commitment to reduce pesticide use

15 out of 15 points

Avoiding regrettable substitutes

5 out of 5 points

Commitment to least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

10 out of 10 points

Commitment to organic

5 out of 15 points

Giant Eagle’s pollinator health policy includes a timebound commitment of 2025 to eliminate use of nitroguanidine neonicotinoids in the company’s produce supply chain. Giant Eagle’s pollinator health policy also includes a timebound commitment of 2025 for produce growers to adopt ecological farming methods known as integrated pest management (IPM), as verified by a vetted list of third-party certifiers: USDA certified organic and international organic labels that meet the USDA standard for equivalency; Bee Better Certified; Equitable Food Initiative (EFI); Fair Trade International; Fair Trade USA – Year 6 and beyond; Global G.A.P – Integrated Farm Assurance V5, V6; LEAF Marque; Rainforest Alliance; Sustainable Food Group Sustainability Standard; Sustainability Grown (SCS Global Services). Those not able to get certified are required to create an IPM plan that meets key, stringent criteria which will be reviewed by an external entity with expertise in IPM. Giant Eagle has briefed Friends of the Earth on progress towards this goal. Giant Eagle has also demonstrated advocacy for public policies aimed at protecting pollinators and supporting the expansion of organic agriculture in the U.S. 

Giant Eagle has not taken any other discernible action. The actions we evaluated include: 1) tracking use of pesticides in company supply chains, 2) measurably reducing pesticide use in the past three years and publicly reporting on data, 3) measurably expanding organic offerings in the past three years, and 4) demonstrating support for U.S. growers to transition to organic farming.

Track pesticide use in supply chain

0 out of 10 points

Measurably reduce pesticide use

15 out of 15 points

Prioritize least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

20 out of 20 points

Prioritize USDA certified organic

5 out of 25 points

Support domestic organic growers

0 out of 15 points

Support public policies

5 out of 5 points

Giant Eagle’s pollinator health policy is publicly available. The policy includes a goal to eliminate neonic use in the company’s produce supply chains and states that Giant Eagle will continue to increase organic offerings.

Giant Eagle has a complete definition of USDA organic on its website and explains the value of organics to people and the environment. Giant Eagle’s website also explains the value of reducing use of toxic pesticides for pollinator health.

Giant Eagle does not appear to include reduction of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health or expansion of organic offerings in company Key Performance Indicators or other formal sustainability criteria.

Make policies and commitments publicly available

6 out of 6 points

Oversight

0 out of 5 points

Educate consumers

10 out of 10 points

Giant Eagle has communicated with Friends of the Earth in the past year. Giant Eagle has briefed Friends of the Earth on meaningful action the company has taken on pesticides and pollinator protection in the past three years.

Giant Eagle’s pollinator policy states that all live plant suppliers do not use neonicotinoids and that the company no longer sells products for home garden use that contain neonicotinoids or glyphosate.

Policy for live goods

4 out of 4 points

Policy for on-shelf pesticide products

5 out of 5 points