Digger magazine

Serving the Northwest Nursery Industry for Over 50 Years

  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • NG_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • FW_banner-2022-728x90px.jpg
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
    • Meta
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • Pivot Points
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Nursery News / Lowe’s to stop selling all neonicotinoid and neonic-treated products by 2019

Lowe’s to stop selling all neonicotinoid and neonic-treated products by 2019

By Peter Szymczak — Posted April 14, 2015

In its just-published “2014 Social Responsibility Report,” home improvement chain Lowe’s announced plans to phase out all neonicotinoid and neonic-treated plant material over the next four years, following similar actions by other retailers.

In response, AmericanHort issued a press release stating, “Lowe’s position is surprising, considering the most recent and positive reports on the state of honeybee health (NASS honey report) and recent peer reviewed research. This is an issue for which sound science must take priority.”

Lowe’s report acknowledged that neonicotinoids are likely not the only factor affecting bee health: “Studies indicate that multiple factors, including mites, poor nutrition, loss of habitat and genetic conditions, are potentially damaging the health of pollinators. Some studies say that neonicotinoid (neonics) pesticides may be a factor.”

Despite this uncertainty, Lowe’s said it will take the following actions:

  • Include greater organic and non-neonic product selections
  • Phase out the sale of products that contain neonic pesticides within 48 months as suitable alternatives become commercially available
  • Work with growers to eliminate the use of neonic pesticides on bee-attractive plants
  • Encourage growers to use biological control programs
  • Educate employees and customers through in-store resources such as brochures, fact sheets and product labels
  • Provide expanded, related content on Lowes.com to help educate customers
  • Fund pollinator gardens through partnership with Keep America Beautiful

Lowe’s actions follow a two-year campaign led by activist organization Friends of the Earth to urge major garden retailers to stop selling plants treated with neonicotinoids and remove neonic pesticides from their shelves. More than one million people signed petitions and thousands of activists delivered letters directly to stores in cities across the U.S. and Canada asking stores to remove neonic-related products.

Lowe’s announcement echoes other U.S. retailers who have taken similar steps in recent months. Last year, BJ’s Wholesale Club said it was asking all of its vendors to provide plants free of neonics by the end of 2014 or to label such products. Home Depot also asked its suppliers to start labeling any plants treated with neonics.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket

Filed Under: Nursery News Tagged With: Pesticides

About Peter Szymczak

Peter Szymczak is the publications manager at the Oregon Association of Nurseries. He writes for and designs Digger magazine.

The Value of Membership

Meet the Leader: Rod Park

President’s Awards Banquet recognizes vital contributions

Meet the Leader: Mark Bigej

More member stories

NURSERY NEWS

Six decades of support

Bailey hires trade communications specialist

Pursell Agri-Tech hires director of turf and ornamentals

Fall Creek hires general counsel

Oregon State hires dean of agriculture sciences

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

June 2022 — The Sustainability Issue

May 2022 — The Technology Issue

April 2022 — The Tree Issue

March 2022 — The Greenhouse Issue

February 2022 — Retail Outlook issue

More issues of Digger

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Virtual is the new reality – for now

Trade shows in the time of COVID

A demand ‘renaissance’ for nurseries

Western Nursery & Landscape Association falls victim to pandemic

MANTS 2021 to move online due to COVID-19

More articles

Nursery Guide LIVE

Nursery Guide LIVE clicks into place

Booth spaces still available for Nursery Guide LIVE March 17–18

Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace postponed due to winter storm damage

Keynote presentations at Nursery Guide LIVE virtual marketplace provide insight on green industry trends in 2021 and beyond

More Posts from this Category

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

Tailored to today’s customers

Little Prince repeats as Best in Show booth winner

Two stand out at New Varieties Showcase

Retailers’ Choice Awards embrace discoveries at Farwest

Farwest marks a gathering of new, returning faces

More Updates from Farwest

Connect with us online

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations
  • Meta

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • Pivot Points
  • President’s Message

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© Copyright 2020 Oregon Association of Nurseries · Admin