WASHINGTON – Walmart launched Built for Better, an initiative to help consumers find healthier, more sustainable products. America’s largest retailer is featuring personal care products, cleaners and other items that have earned the highly sought EWG VERIFIED® mark.
The EWG VERIFIED mark is one of the 30 external certifications Walmart selected to identify products that are made with personal well-being or the environment in mind. To find the food, household and personal care products sold in Walmart that hold one or more of the certifications selected, consumers should look for the Built for Better – For You icon.
From the Walmart announcement:
“For many of our customers, living better means shopping intentionally and prioritizing brands and products that align with the things that matter to them, whether it be healthy foods, clean living or sustainability. . . . But we know shopping with purpose often takes extra time. It requires researching products and reading labels, all of which can be overwhelming for our busy customers.”
For almost 30 years, EWG has tracked chemical safety and warned consumers about companies that use hazardous chemicals in items such as cosmetics and other personal care products. Soon after launching the groundbreaking Skin Deep® cosmetics database, EWG created consumer databases for household cleaners and processed foods. Through rigorous science-based ingredient and product ratings, the EWG Healthy Living Science team of researchers has taken the guesswork out of finding potentially toxic chemicals in a wide range of consumer products.
And the products that earn the coveted EWG VERIFIED designation are free from chemicals of concern, meet rigorous criteria to measure a product’s impact on human health, and adhere to the strict transparency guidelines EWG has established.
“We are delighted that Walmart has selected the EWG VERIFIED mark to include in its effort to feature products that meet the highest independent standards for well-being and sustainability,” said EWG President Ken Cook. “When Walmart shoppers see the Built for Better icon on a product that has earned the EWG VERIFIED mark, they will immediately know that, in addition to meeting our industry-leading benchmarks for health, it is also one of the products identified by Walmart as built better for you.”
Like EWG, Walmart is committed to help consumers live healthier. The new Built for Better program makes it easy for customers to identify and shop for products that are built better – for them and for the planet.
“By choosing EWG VERIFIED, Walmart has recognized the high bar EWG has set for protecting consumers,” said Jocelyn Lyle, EWG’s senior vice president of partnerships and development. “Walmart and EWG are both committed to making it easier for consumers to find products that have met rigorous scientific standards.”
All the products identified by the Built for Better team must meet one or more third-party certifications, industry initiatives or item attributes, such as being made without phthalates.
“The EWG VERIFIED mark is recognized as the gold standard for health and transparency,” said Carla Burns, EWG’s senior director of cosmetic science. “EWG has long verified cosmetics and other personal care products, and recently expanded into household cleaners, baby diapers and ingredients.”
“Walmart’s Built for Better program will now give consumers easy and direct access to EWG VERIFIED products,” said Aya Matsumoto, EWG’s manager of development and external engagement. “Every person should be able to purchase products that are healthier and are less likely to cause harm. It is vital that these consumer products be affordable and available nationwide. This Walmart initiative will inspire more brands and manufacturers to formulate products that meet EWG’s standards.”
Consumers can shop Built for Better on Walmart.com and in the Walmart app. Customers are able to learn more about Built for Better at Walmart.com/LiveBetterTomorrow.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
