Kohl’s

Key Findings and Recommendations

• Corporate Commitment: Kohl’s has made a commitment to reducing toxic chemicals by adopting a publicly available safer chemicals policy, assigning senior management with responsibility for implementation, and participating in a collaborative forum to promote safer chemicals. The company should take the next step and join other retailers in participating in the Chemical Footprint Project and support government policies to reduce chemicals and plastics of high concern.
• Transparency: Kohl’s employs third parties to test all private-label products to ensure compliance with its restricted substance list (RSL) and manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL), provides training to help factories improve their chemicals management, and includes in supplier contracts a requirement that products meet its RSL and MRSL. There is no indication Kohl’s requires suppliers to disclose chemical ingredients or plastics to the retailer or consumers. Kohl’s should require ingredient disclosure and evaluate its chemical footprint.
• Ban the Bad: Kohl’s has an RSL and MRSL that apply to private-label textiles and footwear, but the company has not set public, time-bound goals nor reported on progress to eliminate chemicals or plastics of high concern.
• Safer Solutions: There is no indication that Kohl’s has supported the development or sale of safer products. Kohl’s should work to ensure substitutes for chemicals and plastics of high concern are safer for the health of consumers, communities, workers, and the environment.

Note: The Kohl’s assessment does not include products sold in its stores through Sephora, which is evaluated separately.