Home Depot stands up for honey bees

The world’s largest home-improvement chain has announced that it has removed neonicotinoid pesticides, accused of being a leading driver of global bee population declines, from 80% of its flowering plants. Home Depot added that it will complete its phase-out in plants by 2018.

Atlanta-based The Home Depot says it has been “in communication with the EPA, insecticide industry and our suppliers to understand the science and monitor the research. We are encouraged by the improvements in the colony collapse disorder data and support the White House’s Pollinator Health Task Force. We will continue to expand our customer education on pollinator friendly gardens.”

Environmentalists applauded the move, and at the same time asked for more.

“Home Depot’s progress in removing neonics shows it is listening to consumer concerns and to the growing body of science telling us we need to move away from bee-toxic pesticides,” said Lisa Archer, Food and Technology program director at Friends of the Earth U.S. “However, we know that Home Depot and other retailers can do even more to address the bee crisis. Along with allies, we will continue to challenge retailers to engage in a race to the top to move bee-toxic pesticides off their shelves and out of garden plants as soon as possible. Bees are the canary in the coal mine for our food system and everyone, including the business community, must act quickly to protect them.”

Home Depot’s efforts, which include labeling plants that have been treated with these insecticides, said it would continue to phase out neonicotinoids – unless required by state or federal regulations.

Also, the company said if “undisputed science proves that the use of neonicotinoids on our live goods does not have a lethal or sub lethal effect on pollinators,” then the company would adjust its policy.

Last April, the EPA placed a moratorium on new and expanded uses of neonicotinoids. In September, the 9th Circuit Court suspended the EPA’s approval of sulfoxaflor, a neonicotinoid. Around the industry, retailers and distributors are taking a cautious approach to the insecticide story.