CVS

Chemical Footprint Project (CFP)

CVS Health became a signatory to the Chemical Footprint Project (CFP) in 2016 and was the first major national pharmacy chain to do so. In its 2017 sustainability report, the company stated this signals “a commitment to chemical transparency across [its] supply chain.” However, CVS has not completed the CFP Survey for its own operations.

Supply Chain Disclosure

CVS Health requires all suppliers of store and national brand formulated products, including beauty products of environmental justice concern (BPEJC), to disclose formulation via WERCSmart. This applies to all intentionally added chemicals except fragrances and flavors in products at the SKU level. The company is working individually with its store brand suppliers to publicly disclose generic and third-party component ingredients starting in 2024 through the WERCSmart tool.

CVS Health also requires all suppliers of store-brand products to report details to it on all packaging components including the type of plastic. The company has invested in data collection and assessment tools to track plastic inputs, packaging components, and other metrics to drive progress.

Supplier Accountability

CVS Health’s vendor portal provides a restricted substance list (RSL) and compliance guidance for both owned and brand name products. The company will be providing supplier access to its PurView product screening catalog the second half of 2024, supported by vendor guidance and training materials.

The company does not currently test to confirm private label brands’ compliance with its RSL. The company asks suppliers to confirm compliance with its RSL during the concept stages of product development. The company further has them attest compliance for all new items.

Consumer Disclosure

CVS Health encourages both owned brand and brand-name formulated product suppliers to disclose ingredients to consumers. This does not address generic ingredients such as fragrance, though the company is planning a generic ingredient disclosure initiative in 2024 for formulated products.

Restricted Substances List (RSL)/Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL)

CVS Health has a restricted substance list (RSL) for private-label “Baby & Child, Beauty, Personal Care, Foods, Household, and Bottled Spring Water Products.” The RSL includes formaldehyde donors, parabens, phthalates, some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and numerous other chemicals of concern. The list is reviewed and updated annually. The company has also restricted bisphenols in thermal receipt paper.

The company said the restricted list is applied to national brand products for tracking purposes but compliance with the chemical restrictions are not required.

Reduction/Elimination Goals

CVS Health has defined a list of packaging designated as problematic or unnecessary to eliminate by 2030, which includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. CVS has identified all packaging elements containing PVC and are working to develop new, more sustainable solutions to PVC.

CVS Health is also investigating alternatives to PVC flooring for plank and tile flooring utilized in its healthcare construction.

Chemicals and Plastics Reduction

In 2020, CVS Health announced it was eliminating bisphenols as a class in thermal receipt paper. This not only applies to CVS Health’s registers but also other places in its stores that use thermal receipt paper.

The company has been promoting alternatives including digital receipts in stores. The company continues to drive customers to digital or no receipt options, which 82 percent of customers selected in 2023, eliminating 500 million receipts.

The company is working to replace problematic packaging materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In early 2024, the company replaced a PVC-based pouch with recycled paper and PET plastic package for GSQ beauty tools.

Safer alternative definition

CVS Health’s Chemical Safety Policy includes a definition of “safer alternative” that is consistent with the Washington state definition, including ingredients that are on the EPA Safer Chemical Ingredient List. The company has identified different tools suppliers can utilize to identify safer alternatives.

Implementation of Safer Solutions

In 2020, CVS Health transitioned from thermal receipt paper to receipt paper containing an alternative chemical developer, as well as digital receipts, which are a safer solution. Since then, the company has been driving customers to digital or no receipt options, which 82 percent of customers selected in 2023, eliminating 500 million receipts.