diff --git a/aio/src/environments/environment.ts b/aio/src/environments/environment.ts
index 69c1f7c8bd..165a718f55 100644
--- a/aio/src/environments/environment.ts
+++ b/aio/src/environments/environment.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 // `ng build --env=prod` then `environment.prod.ts` will be used instead.
 // The list of which env maps to which file can be found in `angular-cli.json`.
 
+
+// Reflect.metadata polyfill is only needed in the JIT/dev mode.
+//
+// In order to load these polyfills early enough (before app code), polyfill.ts imports this file to
+// to change the order in the final bundle.
+import 'core-js/es6/reflect';
+import 'core-js/es7/reflect';
+
+
 export const environment = {
   gaId: 'UA-8594346-26', // Staging site
   production: false
diff --git a/aio/src/polyfills.ts b/aio/src/polyfills.ts
index 53bdaf1b86..1e6698d216 100644
--- a/aio/src/polyfills.ts
+++ b/aio/src/polyfills.ts
@@ -40,9 +40,8 @@
 // import 'web-animations-js';  // Run `npm install --save web-animations-js`.
 
 
-/** Evergreen browsers require these. **/
-import 'core-js/es6/reflect';
-import 'core-js/es7/reflect';
+/** HACK: force import of environment.ts/environment.prod.ts to load env specific polyfills */
+import './environments/environment';
 
 
 /** ALL Firefox browsers require the following to support `@angular/animation`. **/