How do TJ Maxx and Marshalls rank on toxic chemicals?

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.

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Summary of TJX Companies’ Grade

0 out of 17.5 points

Policy: Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

TJX has no public written safer chemicals policy, has not set public quantifiable goals for reducing and eliminating CHCs, and does not have a publicly available BRSL or a publicly available manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL).

0 out of 5 points

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

Explanation of Points

TJX has not assigned senior management to implement the company’s safer chemicals policy (because the company has no public written safer chemicals policy).

0 out of 12.5 points

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

Explanation of Points

TJX has not made any discernible effort to assess supplier conformance with safer chemicals policy or RSL (because TJX has no public written safer chemicals policy).

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

Explanation of Points

TJX has not taken any discernible action on suppliers disclosing ingredients to the retailer, going beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 16 points

Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern (CHCs) within the last three years

Explanation of Points

TJX has not publicly documented progress on reducing CHCs beyond regulatory compliance in 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

Explanation of Points

TJX does not have a discernible approach regarding or has not made a public commitment to safer alternatives in products, packaging, or operations.

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

Explanation of Points

TJX has no public safer chemicals policy, BRSL, or MRSL and has not committed to disclosing any of those items in 2020.

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

Explanation of Points

TJX has not made any discernible progress on measuring its chemical footprint via the Chemical Footprint Project.

0 out of 8.5 points

Third-party Standards: Promotes credible third party standards for safer products

Explanation of Points

TJX has not shown discernible progress on credible third-party safer chemicals standards going beyond regulatory compliance.

Extra Credit:

0 out of 5 points

Joint Announcement: Public commitment demonstrated through joint announcement

Explanation of Points

TJX has not made a discernible public commitment through a joint announcement or other coordination effort in advance of a major announcement within the time periods specified in the scoring rubric.

0 out of 15 points

Continuous Improvement: Shows continuous improvement by steadily expanding safer chemicals policy

Explanation of Points

TJX has not exhibited any discernible pattern of significant, consistent, or long-term improvements over the past year or a longer period of time going beyond regulatory compliance.

0 out of 5 points

Safer Products: Program to promote safer products in stores and/or on website

Explanation of Points

TJX has no discernible program to feature and market safer products on store shelves and/or websites.

0 out of 5 points

Collaboration: Actively participates in collaborative process to promote safer chemicals

Explanation of Points

There is no indication that the retailer actively participates in a collaborative process or retains an independent expert body to promote safer chemicals or that it has created an external advisory board to provide input on implementation of the policy.

0 out of 5 points

Impact Investment: Investing financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives and/or green chemistry solutions

Explanation of Points

There is no indication that the retailer invests significant financial resources into independent research into safer alternatives to CHCs and/or green chemistry solutions.

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