TJX Companies (the parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods) is still failing to publicly address toxic chemicals in the products it sells. With a letter grade of F, it was one of twelve retailers (out of 40) 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, but these don’t appear to go beyond regulatory compliance. TJX’s supplier training program only includes an overview of legal requirements on chemicals and hazardous materials and information on hazardous waste management. TJX does not appear to have a Beyond Restricted Substance List or otherwise require disclosure or elimination of chemicals of high concern. This company reported moving away from BPA-containing receipt paper in its 2013 sustainability report, but recent testing by Ecology Center found that the company is using the regrettable substitute of BPS in receipts (at least at two Home Goods stores).
Opportunities for improvement: TJX can make progress by developing a public written safer chemicals policy, developing and enforcing a public Beyond Restricted Substance List, and setting public quantifiable goals with clear timelines for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern. The switch from BPA to BPS in receipt paper clearly highlights the need for a robust policy. TJX can also expand its existing audit process to verify compliance with such a policy. TJX should 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 7.5 points
Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives
0 out of 10 points
Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability
TJX does require audits of factories manufacturing products designed by the company, but these don’t appear to go beyond regulatory compliance. The component involving a “chemical and hazardous materials review” covers “usage information and verification of Material Safety Data Sheets, chemical safety, and hazardous waste programs” and “policies, practices, and procedures concerning the handling of chemicals and other hazardous waste.” TJX notes it has “zero tolerance” for “use of chemicals banned” where factories are located. Over 1,000 audits are conducted each year.
TJX also conducts a supplier training program, but it only includes “an overview of the legal requirements on the use of chemicals and hazardous materials in the regions where products are both manufactured and sold” and information on “Material Safety Data Sheets, hazardous waste management, and required environmental permits.”
0 out of 10 points
Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer
0 out of 15 points
Action: Reduced or eliminated chemicals of high concern 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 10 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 15 points
Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure
TJX does not appear to encourage or require the disclosure of ingredients in products online or on product packaging or publicly disclose the identity of articles or formulated products that are free of chemicals of high concern going beyond regulatory compliance.
0 out of 7.5 points
Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint
0 out of 7.5 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