TJX Companies (the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) is still failing to publicly address toxic chemicals that can be in the products it sells. With a letter grade of F, it was one of nine retailers out of 43 in our review to score zero points with no significant public-facing commitments to address the safety of chemicals used in the products it sells.
TJX requires audits of its suppliers’ factories and TJX’s supplier training program includes an overview of legal requirements on chemicals and hazardous materials as well as information on hazardous waste management, but these don’t appear to go beyond regulatory compliance. TJX does not appear to have a beyond restricted substance list (BRSL) or otherwise require disclosure or elimination of chemicals of high concern (CHCs). This company reported moving away from BPA-containing receipt paper in its 2013 sustainability report, but testing released by Ecology Center in early 2018 found that the company was using the regrettable substitute of BPS in receipts.
Opportunities for improvement: TJX can make progress by developing a public written safer chemicals policy, developing and enforcing a public BRSL, and setting public quantifiable goals with clear timelines for reducing and eliminating CHCs, especially any per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic flame retardants, and phthalates that may be in the products it sells. The switch from BPA to BPS in receipt paper highlights the need for a robust policy. The policy should also apply to its operations, especially since the cafeterias in one of TJX’s headquarters have switched to using compostable plates that may be treated with PFAS (compostable plates are sometimes treated with PFAS). TJX can also expand its existing audit process to verify compliance with a future safer chemicals policy. TJX should also become a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project and pilot it with key private label suppliers.
Note: Our assessment is primarily based on the policies and practices of TJX, the parent company.
Summary of TJX Companies’ Grade

0 out of 17.5 points
Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

0 out of 5 points
Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

0 out of 12.5 points
Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability
TJX does require audits of factories manufacturing merchandise designed by the company and conducts a supplier training program, but these don’t appear to go beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 13 points
Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer

0 out of 16 points
Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern (CHCs) within the last three years
Note that TJX did report converting “all register tape to a BPA-free product” in its 2013 Responsibility Report. However, based on recent testing by the Ecology Center of Home Goods receipts collected in 2017, the company appears to have switched to the regrettable substitute BPS.

0 out of 13.5 points
Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes
TJX did not specify the alternative BPA-free receipt paper. Based on recent testing by the Ecology Center of Home Goods receipts collected in 2017, the company seems to have switched to BPS, which is not a safer alternative.

0 out of 18 points
Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure
TJX does not appear to encourage or require suppliers to publicly disclose ingredients in products online or on product packaging and does not itself publicly disclose the identity of articles or formulated products that are free of CHCs going beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 7.5 points
Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

0 out of 8.5 points
Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third party standards for safer products
Extra Credit:

0 out of 5 points
Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

0 out of 15 points
Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy

0 out of 5 points
Safer Products: Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website

0 out of 5 points
Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

0 out of 5 points
Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions