Tell Ace: Stop selling bee-killing pesticides!

Bees are in trouble. A study released this fall found that nearly 80 percent of flying insects had declined in the past three decades, largely thanks to pesticide use. Another recent study found the number of wild animals living on Earth is set to fall by two-thirds by 2020. This all points to an ecological disaster.

It's time for Ace to stop contributing to this crisis and stop selling bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides!

Tell the CEO of Ace to step up and protect bees.

Mr.

John

Venhuizen

Ace Hardware

Dear Mr. Venhuizen,

I’m deeply troubled that your company is the only major garden retailer in the U.S. that hasn’t adopted a formal policy to eliminate neonicotinoid pesticides in both plants and in off-the-shelf products. I urge Ace Hardware to revise its policy and commit to not allow neonicotinoid pesticides in plants and  products and issue guidance to its nurseries, suppliers and retailers to phase out these pesticides in plants and products by spring 2019.

Ace Hardware repeatedly tells its customers that it is addressing this issue, but that is not accurate. Ace Hardware’s policy states, “it is willing to move away from products containing neonicotinoids, a class of chemicals used in pesticides, as new and appropriate replacement products are offered by its suppliers.” Nowhere in this policy statement does Ace Hardware say it is committing to remove neonicotinoids on plants and products by a specific date.

As I’m sure you’ve seen, True Value, your company’s largest competitor, said it was willing to move away from these pesticides, but revised its company policy to say it will move away from these pesticides by spring of 2018 and give guidance to all of its franchise locations and growing partners to phase out these pesticides. I urge Ace Hardware to revise its policy to say it will remove these pesticides and issue guidance to its nurseries, suppliers and retailers to phase out neonicotinoids in plants and products by spring 2019.

Ace Hardware is behind all major garden retailers on this issue. In addition to True Value, Walmart, the world’s largest retail chain, announced in May that it will remove all neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticides, a leading driver of global bee declines, from its gardening products by 2017 and that 80 percent of its current plant offerings are free of neonicotinoids. Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco, Whole Foods, BJ’s Wholesale Club and over 135 retailers across the country have taken steps to eliminate neonicotinoids from store shelves.

Earlier this fall, the UK announced it will support a total ban on neonicotinoids.

In September 2017, the Task Force on Systemic Pesticides released a follow-up meta-study on neonicotinoids and other systemic insecticides. The new assessment found even broader impacts and reinforced their 2015 conclusions. The scientists concluded that neonicotinoids represent a major worldwide threat to biodiversity and ecosystems and called for an immediate stop to agricultural uses of systemic pesticides. Also, a new study was published that found neonicotinoids in 75 percent of honey samples from across the world. In one-third of the honey, the amount of the chemical found was enough to be detrimental to bees. Further, another new study was released that found populations of flying insects have fallen by around 80 percent in the last three decades in western Germany. This decline points to a potential ecological disaster.

Many of your Ace Hardware franchise locations are taking action on this issue. For example, in November, Hardware Retailing wrote an article featuring Marin Ace Hardware and the steps it has taken to eliminate neonicotinoids from the plants and products that it sells. If a product contains neonicotinoids, it labels it as harmful to pollinators. If Ace Hardware affiliates are taking these steps, Ace Hardware Corporation should encourage all affiliates to follow.

I urge your company to take immediate action on this issue. As a top retail chain, it is extremely concerning that your company chooses not to move with the rest of the industry on this issue by working to phase out neonicotinoids on both plants and off-the-shelf products as quickly as possible. By not making a strong, public, formal commitment, Ace risks losing the business of thousands of customers.

Thank you,

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