Rite Aid

In December, 2019, Rite Aid released a written, publicly available pollinator health policy. The policy identifies neonicotinoids, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate pesticides as targets for reduction and also includes a link to a comprehensive list of pesticides identified as acutely toxic to pollinators. The policy encourages transition to least-toxic approaches, stating: “We encourage all of our food and beverage suppliers to reduce use of pollinator-toxic pesticides and to adopt least-toxic approaches to pest management, including biological and physical pest control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies,” defining IPM as a strategy that “utilizes non-chemical, mechanical and biological methods of pest control, acts against pests only when necessary and uses least-toxic methods as a last resort. IPM relies on inspection and monitoring to detect and correct conditions that could lead to pest problems.” The policy encourages suppliers to avoid regrettable substitution (the replacement of one hazardous pesticide with another), and includes a list of possible regrettable substitutes. Rite Aid’s pollinator health policy also includes a commitment to continue expanding organic offerings.

Rite Aid’s pollinator health policy does not include any timebound or measurable commitments to phase out pesticides of concern or expand the adoption of least-toxic practices in company food or beverage supply chains.

Commitment to reduce pesticide use

7 out of 15 points

Avoiding regrettable substitutes

5 out of 5 points

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

3 out of 10 points

Commitment to organic

5 out of 15 points

Rite Aid’s pollinator health policy states that in 2019, the company introduced nearly 150 new organic food items.

Rite Aid has not taken any other discernible action to reduce use of pesticides of concern to pollinator and human health or expand organic farming and other least-toxic approaches in its supply chains. 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) supporting farmers in non-organic supply chains to shift to least-toxic approaches such as integrated pest management and regenerative agriculture, 4) measurably expanding organic offerings in the past three years, 5) demonstrating support for U.S. growers to transition to organic farming, and 6) demonstrating advocacy for public policies aimed at reducing agricultural pesticide use, protecting pollinators and supporting the expansion of organic agriculture in the U.S.

Track pesticide use in supply chain

00 out of 10 points

Measurably reduce pesticide use

0 out of 15 points

Prioritize least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

0 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

0 out of 5 points

Rite Aid’s pollinator health policy is publicly available on the company’s website. The policy encourages suppliers to transition away from neonicotinoids, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate pesticides and states that Rite Aid will continue to increase organic offerings.

Rite Aid 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. Rite Aid does not have educational content online about pesticides or organic farming, such as a full definition of the USDA certified organic label (prohibition of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, and growth hormones, and promotion of farming methods that protect soil, water and biodiversity) or content on the value to pollinator and human health of decreasing use of toxic pesticides and expanding organic offerings.

Make policies and commitments publicly available

6 out of 6 points

Oversight

0 out of 5 points

Educate consumers

0 out of 10 points

Rite Aid has communicated with Friends of the Earth in the past year. Rite Aid has not briefed Friends of the Earth on meaningful action the company has taken on pesticides and pollinator protection in the past three years.

Rite Aid has not made a public commitment to reduce or phase out use of neonicotinoids in live goods and garden plants. Rite Aid has not made a public commitment to remove neonicotinoid or glyphosate products from store shelves.

Policy for live goods

0 out of 4 points

Policy for on-shelf pesticide products

0 out of 5 points