Who's Minding the Store?

AWho’s report card on Minding retailer actions to the eliminate Store? toxic chemicals

The fifth annual Who’s Minding the Store? or plastics or improving their retailer report card shows that the largest retailers chemical policies. This progress in the United States and Canada continue to is impressive given the chal- make substantial progress towards reducing and lenges of 2020 and the ongoing eliminating toxic chemicals and offering safer, impacts of a global pandemic. more sustainable products and packaging. These retail sustainability actions are preventing toxic The group of 11 retailers first pollution of communities, workers, homes, water, graded in 2016 achieved the food, people, and wildlife. greatest increase in average grade, moving from a D+ to a B-. Fifty major retailers were evaluated this year, up from 43 in 2019. Together, these retailers have This year’s report card more than 200,000 stores across the United States had the lowest-ever and Canada. percentage of retailers with failing grades.

Significant Progress In 2018, nearly half of the retailers received failing grades. by Many Retailers health inequities from chemicals in beauty The failure rate dropped to nearly one-third in 2019 Companies are implementing more com- products marketed to women of color. and again to one-quarter this year. Four retailers prehensive chemical policies and achieving climbed out of the hole in 2021, erasing their pre- The beauty and personal care sector reported among greater reductions over the last five years. vious F with an improved grade: McDonald’s, TJX, the greatest gains of any retail sector. Ulta Beauty Out of the 43 retailers graded previously, near- Ulta Beauty, and Yum! Brands. was the most improved retailer in the last year, ly 70% were found to have improved since their first earning a C- grade to top its F score in 2019. And score in the retailer report card. Since our last report Retailers in the beauty and personal care Sephora has shown the greatest improvement over in 2019, nearly two-thirds of retailers (64%) re- sector made notable improvements including time, receiving an A grade, up from a D when first ported notable progress in reducing toxic chemicals the first actions to address racial injustice and evaluated in 2017.

The report card is published by the Mind the Store campaign, a project of Toxic-Free Future. Thanks to Campaign for Healthier Solutions, Defend Our Health, Environmental Defence (Canada), Getting Ready for Baby campaign, Safer States, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice for their partnership on the report card. For the first-time, two retailers, Rite Aid and Target, • Twelve retailers are targeting PFAS have committed to screening for chemicals of high “forever chemicals” for reduction or Many Retailers concern in beauty products marketed to women of elimination in food packaging at more Still Need to Act color. This follows the addition of new criteria grad- than 65,000 store locations globally. While the progress among certain retailers ing such commitments this past year. Whole Foods 7-Eleven, Ahold Delhaize, Albertsons, is significant, far too many retailers fail to Market has also acted on some chemicals of concern Amazon, Chipotle, McDonald’s, Panera Bread, take even the most basic of actions needed to in similar products. Studies have shown that women Rite Aid, Taco Bell, TJX, Trader Joe’s, and protect the health of their customers. They of color are disproportionately exposed to toxic Whole Foods Market are targeting PFAS for have failed to ensure that the products and chemicals from beauty and personal care products. reduction or elimination in food packaging packaging they sell do not contain harmful and food service ware. chemicals and plastics that can harm con- The discount stores won “most improved” • Some retailers are taking new action to sumers, communities, workers, and the retail sector overall from last year. restrict PFAS in textiles. Lowe’s became environment. Dollar Tree improved from a D+ to a C+. Dollar the first major retailer to announce it will no General earned a C- grade, making progress from its longer sell fabric protection sprays containing A total of 12 companies earned failing grades D grade in 2019. PFAS. REI announced that it is restricting this year. Named to the 2021 Retailer Report Card PFAS in all clothing treatment (and ski wax) Toxic Hall of Shame are: products but still allows PFAS in outdoor High performers are consistent and more ✘ 7-Eleven companies are joining their ranks. apparel and other textiles. ✘ 99 Cents Only Stores This year, Sephora and Whole Foods Market were • Eight retailers are tackling the most ✘ Ace Hardware awarded A’s and joined consistent high perform- toxic plastics. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC ers Apple and Target, who each earned an A+, and or vinyl) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) ✘ Alimentation Couche-Tarde IKEA and Walmart, both with A- grades. These foam are among some of the most dangerous (Circle K, Couche-Tard) plastics due to highly hazardous chemicals retailers represent the best in class in their commit- ✘ Metro ment to safer chemicals. used in production or disposal. We evaluated ✘ retailers’ actions to phase out these and other Nordstrom More retailers are now phasing out toxic plastics for the first time this year. A few ✘ Publix noteworthy examples include the pledge by dangerous chemicals as a class, making a ✘ Restaurant Brands International Apple to eliminate all plastics in packaging larger impact on safer products. (Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes) by 2025, and the phase-out of EPS foam Retailers are increasingly phasing out entire classes packaging by Yum! Brands (parent of KFC, ✘ Sally Beauty of toxic chemicals such as bisphenols, organoha- Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell). ✘ Sobeys logen flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and ortho-phthalates. ✘ Starbucks ✘ Subway

Fifth Annual RetailerReportCard.com 2 How retailers rank on tackling toxic chemicals EXTRA CREDIT

23.5 PTS. 5 PTS. 15 PTS. 17.5 PTS. 26 PTS. 16 PTS. 20 PTS. 7.5 PTS. 8.5 PTS. 5 PTS. 10 PTS. 5 PTS. 5 PTS. Policy Oversight Accountability Disclosure Action Safer Transparency Chemical Third-party Joint Continuous Collaboration Impact Total Alternatives Footprint Standards Announcement Improvement Investment Score

6 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 7-Eleven F

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 99 Cents Only Stores F

5.25 1.25 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ace Hardware F

40 12.5 5 3.75 0 5 2 2.5 3.75 0 2.5 3 0 0 Ahold Delhaize C-

41.25 8.75 2.5 3.75 0 10.5 3.25 6.25 0 3.75 0 0 2.5 0 Albertsons C-

63.75 9.5 2.5 7.5 1.25 13.5 4.5 6.25 4.5 4.5 0 4.75 5 0 ALDI B-

1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Alimentation Couche-Tard F

56.75 8.75 3.75 2.5 6 6 4.5 8.25 0 3 2.5 6.5 5 0 Amazon C+

116.25 21 5 12.5 10.5 18.5 13.75 7.5 0 7.5 0 10 5 5 Apple A+

Fifth Annual RetailerReportCard.com 3 How retailers rank on tackling toxic chemicals EXTRA CREDIT

59 13.75 2.5 7.5 7 4.5 5.5 8.25 0 0 0 10 0 0 Bed Bath & Beyond C+

52 10 2.5 5 4.5 5 4.5 7.5 0 1.5 0 6.5 5 0 Best Buy C

29.5 8.75 1.25 0 0 12 0 7.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canadian Tire D

24.75 7 0 1.25 0 6 0 5 0 0 2.5 3 0 0 Chipotle D

65.5 12.5 2.5 7.5 7 13.5 8.5 7 0 1.5 0 3 2.5 0 Costco B-

72 12.5 5 7.5 5 16 2 8.5 1.5 0 2.5 6.5 5 0 CVS Health B

34.75 5 1.25 6.25 1.25 4.5 2 5 0 1.5 0 3 5 0 Dick’s Sporting Goods D+

42 10 2.5 3.75 4.5 3 4.5 8.25 0 0 2.5 3 0 0 Dollar General C-

61.75 7.5 2.5 5 8.5 17 2 8.25 4.5 0 0 6.5 0 0 Dollar Tree C+

Fifth Annual RetailerReportCard.com 4 How retailers rank on tackling toxic chemicals EXTRA CREDIT

23.5 5 0 0 0 16 0 2.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dunkin’ Brands D

76.25 11.25 2.5 7.5 8.5 19.5 4.5 9 0 3 2.5 3 5 0 The Home Depot B

90 18.5 2.5 12.5 9.5 15 9.5 5 0 0 0 10 5 2.5 IKEA A-

56.25 11.25 5 10 0 6 2 8.25 0 5.25 2.5 6 0 0 Kohl’s C+

46.5 5 1.25 5 0 10.5 2 5 0 3.75 2.5 6.5 5 0 Kroger C-

69 13.75 0 8.75 5 15 2 7.75 0 5.25 0 6.5 5 0 L Brands B-

47.75 8.75 1.25 6.25 5 15 0 5 0 0 0 6.5 0 0 Loblaw C

68 10 2.5 5 6 18 2 7.5 0 3 2.5 6.5 5 0 Lowe’s B-

17.75 5 1.25 1.25 0 3 1 2.5 0 3.75 0 0 0 0 Macy’s D-

Fifth Annual RetailerReportCard.com 5 How retailers rank on tackling toxic chemicals EXTRA CREDIT

26.75 6.25 0 2.5 4 6 0 5 0 0 0 3 0 0 McDonald’s D

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Metro F

13.5 2.5 0 2.5 0 0 2 5 0 1.5 0 0 0 0 Nordstrom F

49.5 10 2.5 10 6 3 2 7.5 0 3 2.5 3 0 0 Office Depot C

39.75 7.5 2.5 5 7 7.75 2 2.5 0 0 2.5 3 0 0 Panera Bread C-

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Publix F

77 13.75 2.5 8.75 6 15 3.25 7.5 0 5.25 0 10 5 0 REI B

11.25 4.5 0 1.25 0 0 0 2.5 0 0 0 3 0 0 Restaurant Brands International F

85.25 16.5 2.5 9.5 9.5 17 4.5 10.5 3 0.75 5 6.5 0 0 Rite Aid B+

Fifth Annual RetailerReportCard.com 6 How retailers rank on tackling toxic chemicals EXTRA CREDIT

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sally Beauty F

96.25 14.5 5 7.5 10.5 16.5 13 8.75 0 1.5 2.5 6.5 5 5 Sephora A

5.25 0.75 0 0 0 4.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sobeys F

39.75 6.25 2.5 2.5 5 0 6.5 8.25 1.5 2.25 0 0 5 0 Staples C-

11.25 3.75 0 2.5 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 Starbucks F

9.5 2.5 0 0 0 0 0 2.5 0 4.5 0 0 0 0 Subway F

105 18.25 5 7.5 9.5 15 8.5 10 6 5.25 0 10 5 5 Target A+

28.75 8.25 1.25 0 0 0 1 6 0.75 0 0 6.5 5 0 TJX D

25.5 7 0 0 0 8 1 6.5 0 0 0 3 0 0 Trader Joe’s D

Fifth Annual RetailerReportCard.com 7 How retailers rank on tackling toxic chemicals EXTRA CREDIT

43 7.5 2.5 5 8.5 3 2 5.5 0 0 0 6.5 2.5 0 Ulta Beauty C-

63.25 10 3.75 5 7.5 6 4.5 13 0 3 5 3 2.5 0 Walgreens B-

93 13.75 2.5 2.5 8 15 8.5 11.25 7.5 4 2.5 10 5 2.5 Walmart A-

98.25 16.25 2.5 6.25 8.25 20.5 8.5 10.25 4.5 3.75 2.5 10 5 0 Whole Foods Market A

17.75 6.25 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 6.5 0 0 Yum! Brands D-

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