Lowe's Moves Before EPA to Pull Deadly Paint Strippers from Shelves
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated in May that it would follow through with an Obama-era proposal to ban the use of a deadly chemical in paint strippers sold at hardware stores across the United States. Although the EPA has not formally followed through on the proposal, Lowe's announced on May 29 that it would no longer sell certain paint strippers linked to dozens of deaths. The nationwide hardware chain said it would phase out paint removal products containing methylene chloride and NMP by the end of 2018. Chief Customer Officer Mike McDermott said, "We care deeply about the health and safety of our customers, and great progress is being made in the development of safer and more effective alternatives." Furthermore, Lowe's said it is still "actively working" with the EPA "to quickly market new alternatives and lead change in the industry."