Corporate and NGO leaders have launched a tool called the Chemical Footprint Project (CFP) to speed up the retail market’s move toward safer chemicals.

Similar to carbon footprinting, the CFP will help retailers measure their accomplishments and transform global chemical use by releasing data on business progress.

“We feel confident this new tool will empower big retailers to more comprehensively assess and address toxic chemicals in their supply chain,” said Mike Schade, campaign director for the Mind the Store campaign of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families. “This will help retailers sell products that are safer for their customers and avoid the use of hazardous chemicals linked to chronic diseases.”

Clean Production Action, an environmental non-profit, created the CFP, along with the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the sustainability consultancy, Pure Strategies.