Lowe's Agrees to Phase Out Bee-Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticides

April 09, 2015

April 9, 2015 (Washington, DC)—After nearly two years of pressure from the public, Lowe’s Home Improvement has announced it will begin taking steps to protect bees and similarly affected pollinators from toxic insecticides call neonicotinoids. Its public commitment to phase out neonicotinoid pesticides is the most significant public commitment so far for a retailer of its size.

According to Lowe’s 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report:

Lowe’s is committed to regularly reviewing the products and information we offer customers and we’re taking the following actions to support pollinator health:

Including greater organic and non-neonic product selections

Phasing out the sale of products that contain neonic pesticides within 48 months as suitable alternatives become commercially available

Working with growers to eliminate the use of neonic pesticides on bee-attractive plants we sell

Encouraging growers to use biological control programs

Educating employees and customers through in-store resources such as brochures, fact sheets and product labels

“While there is still a lot of work left to do to reduce bees’ exposure to these harmful chemicals, this is a major step. The public has been calling for stronger protections for bees and other pollinators, and Lowe’s has finally listened to its customers to do just that,” said Larissa Walker, pollinator campaign director at Center for Food Safety.



The public campaign was spearheaded by Friends of the Earth U.S., and was supported by Center for Food Safety and numerous other organizations. Together, members of the public sent thousands of emails, prodded Lowe’s on social media, and rallied in front of Lowe’s stores across the country to urge the company to protect pollinators.