About this Report

Background

The 2024 Retailer Report Card, the sixth edition since its inception in 2016, evaluates 50 major retailers, totaling 160 businesses when including subsidiaries. New retailers evaluated this year include: discount chain Five Below, flooring retailer LL Flooring (Lumber Liquidators), pet supply giant PetSmart, and leading paint and coatings retailer Sherwin-Williams. Collectively, these 160 retailers generate over $4 trillion in annual revenue and wield considerable influence over the use of toxic chemicals in their supply chains.

The most comprehensive assessment of the United States and Canada’s  largest retailers’ chemical and plastics management policies, this report card, led by the Mind the Store program of Toxic-Free Future, sets a high bar for corporate responsibility.  Toxic-Free Future, a national leader in environmental health research and advocacy, assesses retailers on their corporate policies, implementation efforts, and transparency regarding hazardous chemicals and plastics and safer solutions.

For 2024, the grading system has been enhanced to increase clarity and emphasize progress around safer solutions. The framework, The Four Essential Elements for a Safer Marketplace, is a points-based system evaluating retailers in four areas: Corporate Commitment, Transparency, Ban the Bad, and Safer Solutions.

Based on publicly available data, all 50 retailers were assessed and invited to review and respond to their draft grades in the spring and summer of 2024. Feedback from 28 out of 50 retailers was received, and subsequently incorporated into their evaluations. The updated grading system also impacted the grading scale – the letter grade awarded for points earned. This year’s report raises the bar, challenging retailers to drive further improvements in the years ahead.

Published by Toxic-Free Future and its Mind the Store program, the 2024 Retailer Report Card reveals which companies are advancing safer chemical practices, which have opportunities for growth, and which lag behind. Poor management of chemicals and plastics can erode customer and investor trust, market share, and expose businesses to significant financial and regulatory liabilities. Meanwhile, strong chemical policies offer competitive advantages to businesses.

As consumers, we have incredible power to drive positive change in the marketplace and build a toxic-free future by choosing companies that prioritize safer products and packaging. Use this report as a guide to support responsible retailers and encourage lagging companies to improve. For the 17 companies designated in the Toxic Hall of Shame, join us in calling for urgent change through our “Take Action” feature.

The Mind the Store program’s strategy continues to create impact by  publicly benchmarking companies, engaging consumers, conducting new scientific research, and working closely with retailers to share policy recommendations, which together is driving a competitive race to the top in the retail sector.

Together, we can ensure that the places we shop are committed to “minding the store” for safer products and a healthier future.