Back in February, we published the results of our experiment on exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and its controversial replacement, bisphenol S (BPS), on receipts. We launched a campaign asking Health Canada to ban bisphenols from receipts that cashiers handle every day. 

Health Canada’s public response to our findings unfortunately dismisses the serious concerns about elevated exposures experienced by cashiers and those who handle receipts regularly.loblaws receipt cashier

While we will continue to advocate for government action, we won’t let progress stall on this important worker’s health issue. That’s why we are calling on leading retailers across Canada to step up and ditch receipts coated with hormone-disrupting bisphenols.

Yesterday, we sent a letter to 13 leading retail giants in Canada in partnership with the largest union representing retail workers, United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW), Breast Cancer Action Quebec and the Mind the Store campaign. (Read the letters here.) The retailers include:

  • A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
  • Best Buy
  • Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.
  • Cineplex Inc.
  • Costco Canada
  • Empire Company Ltd. (Sobeys, FreshCo, Farm Boy, Safeway)
  • Loblaw Companies Ltd. (Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Joe Fresh)
  • Lowe’s Canada (Reno-Depot, Ace, Dick’s Lumber)
  • McDonald’s Canada
  • Metro Inc. (Metro, Super C, Food Basics, Premiere Moisson, Adonis, Brunet, Jean Coutu, Metro Pharmacy, Drug Basics)
  • Restaurant Brands International Inc. (Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeye’s)
  • The Home Depot Canada
  • Wal-Mart Canada Corp.

Our letters urge these retailers to commit to switching to bisphenol-free receipts by the end of the year. Together, they employ tens of thousands of workers and cashiers who handle receipts on a daily basis. Many of these workers are women and teenagers who are biologically more vulnerable to the impacts of hormone disruptors and may consequently face unacceptable health risks while on the job.      

Everyone should have the right to a safe and healthy work environment. And these retailers have the market power and responsibility to protect workers and customers by ditching toxic receipts.

retailers logos receipts

We are asking retailers to let us know by August 6th whether they will commit to phasing out bisphenols in receipts. We will keep you posted on our progress and next steps in terms of how you can get involved and support this important campaign. 

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