99 Cents Only Stores

Policy:Adopted a retailer safer chemicals policy

0 out of 23.5 points

99 Cents Only Stores has no public written safer chemicals policy and has not set public quantifiable goals for reducing and eliminating chemicals of high concern (CHCs) or plastics of environmental health concern (PEHC). The company does not have a publicly available beyond restricted substance list (BRSL), manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL), or beyond restricted material list (BRML) for plastics of environmental health concern (PEHC).

In 2015, the company provided only a vague statement in response to results of product testing by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions (CHS), which showed toxic chemicals in 99 Cents Only products: “99 Cents Only Stores is committed to providing safe, quality products to its customers, including national brands, that meet or exceed applicable federal and state requirements.”

In 2019, in response to additional testing, the company agreed to meet with CHS but has so far not issued any public statement amounting to a chemical policy. In July 2020, after additional outreach by CHS, the company met with CHS and committed to regular meetings with the organization. However, the meetings have not yet happened despite repeated outreach by CHS.

Glossary of Terms

Oversight: Established management responsibilities and incentives

0 out of 5 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not assigned senior management responsibility for a company safer chemicals policy (because the company has no public written safer chemicals policy).

Glossary of Terms

Accountability: Ensures supply chain accountability

0 out of 15 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not made any discernible effort to assess supplier conformance with a company safer chemicals policy, BRSL, MRSL, or BRML (because the company has no public written safer chemicals policy, BRSL, MRSL, or BRML).

Glossary of Terms

Disclosure: Requires suppliers to report use of chemicals in products to retailer

0 out of 17.5 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not taken any discernible action on suppliers disclosing ingredients to the retailer going beyond regulatory compliance.

Glossary of Terms

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

0 out of 26 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not publicly documented progress on reducing chemicals of high concern (CHCs) or plastics of environmental health concern (PEHC) beyond regulatory compliance in the last three years.

Glossary of Terms

Safer Alternatives: Evaluates safer alternatives, avoids regrettable substitutes

0 out of 16 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not made a public commitment to safer alternatives in products, packaging, or operations.

Glossary of Terms

Transparency: Demonstrates a commitment to transparency and public disclosure

0 out of 20 points

99 Cents Only Stores has no public safer chemicals policy, beyond restricted substance list (BRSL), manufacturing restricted substance list (MRSL), or beyond restricted material list (BRML) and has not committed to disclosing any of those items in 2021 after the publication of the report card.

99 Cents Only Stores does not appear to encourage or require suppliers to publicly disclose ingredients in products online or on product packaging going beyond regulatory compliance.

Glossary of Terms

Chemical Footprint: Evaluates its chemical footprint

0 out of 7.5 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not made any discernible progress on measuring its chemical footprint via the Chemical Footprint Project.

Glossary of Terms

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

0 out of 8.5 points

99 Cents Only Stores has not shown discernible progress on credible third-party safer chemicals standards going beyond regulatory compliance.

Glossary of Terms