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      Store brand sustainability

      Woman speaking with a CVS Health employee about a product in the store

      We provide our customers with store brand products that meet the highest level of quality and safety, developed with respect for the environment. Across our store brand products, we have the opportunity to meet our customers’ evolving needs for transparency and sustainability through robust, responsible sourcing practices.

      • 86% of our store brand products contain “How2Recycle” labeling to educate consumers on how a product should be recycled through clear and easy-to-understand labeling.
      • New packaging for 16 CVS Health thermometers has transitioned from PVC plastic to a 100% recyclable paper package, eliminating 212,000 pounds of plastic while improving the consumer experience.
      • We transitioned the packaging for our store brand nut items from non-recyclable composite canisters to widely recyclable PET jars, eliminating 361,000 pounds of non-recyclable material.
      • We launched 100% recyclable aluminum Gold Emblem water bottles in 2023.
      • Total Home Earth Essentials products feature BPI-certified compostable dinnerware in compostable packaging and BPA-free reusable storage bags.

      Packaging

      Working together with our store brand suppliers, we can directly impact packaging for our products and improve recyclability. In 2022, we joined forces with World Wildlife Fund and the organization’s activation hub, ReSource: Plastic, a consortium of leading companies and organizations collaborating to address the planet’s plastic waste crisis by driving high standards on plastic sourcing for the retail industry. 

      Our store brand sustainability goals

      Learn more about our goals and how we’re working to achieve them

      •  In 2023, 5% of our products made with plastic contained recycled content. In 2024, 5% of our products made with plastic contained recycled content.
      • We still have considerable progress to make and investments made in 2024 to data collection and assessment tools will help us evaluate and drive progress.
      • We continue to evaluate how to best report on this goal and capture efforts with a continuously evolving product portfolio and offerings that change annually.

      • As of December 31, 2024, 45.5% of store brand product components are designated as reusable, recyclable* or compostable.

      *We use How2Recycle’s designations of ‘widely recyclable’ and ‘store drop offs to define “recyclable.”

      •  As of December 31, 2024, 13% of paper packaging in store brand products have sustainable sourcing certification.
      • Throughout 2024, we communicated with our suppliers about our expectations for all paper carton packaging. By the end of 2025, all paper cartons will be produced using either a recycled paper or from a certified sustainable source, such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).   

       

      • We’ve identified these items and a full list can be found here.
      •  We are now working to build out the data system of all packaging components for all store brand items. This will allow us to sort, filter and search by specific packaging attributes.
      • We have identified key features that we have defined to be problematic, such as single-use packaging containing PVC and packaging that is not recyclable based on specific components.
      • Through this system and with these definitions, we will be able to target individual items and components to implement more sustainable solutions to achieve our 2030 goals.

       

      Sourcing

      We are dedicated to providing our customers with quality store brand products. As part of this commitment, we ensure that all palm oil used in our store brand products comes from verified, responsible sources supported by sourcing through fully traceable supply chains. 

      We require that all store brand suppliers adhere to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Principles & Criteria on palm oil and palm oil derivative sourcing. Additionally, when new store brand items contain palm oil, suppliers must demonstrate proof of required certification.

      Learn more about our Responsible Palm Oil Sourcing Policy. 

      Learn more about our Commitment to the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 

      Read more about our commitment to responsible sourcing and human rights throughout our supply chain in Healthy Business. 

       

      Chemical management

      Pollinators, including birds, bats, insects, and especially bees, are vital to ensuring the health and dependability of the global food supply system. Research shows that pollinator populations around the world are in decline as a result of pesticide use, climate change, habitat loss, poor nutrition and pathogens. We are committed to working with our partners to take appropriate steps to advance health and safety throughout our supply chains for humans and pollinators alike. We strongly encourage all suppliers of our store brand food and beverage products to consider avoiding the use of pesticides of particular concern to pollinator health and to adopt organic agricultural practices and least-toxic approaches to pest management whenever possible.

      Learn more in our Pollinator and Pest Management Policy. 

      We also update our store brand restricted chemical list (PDF) restricted chemical list annually. The list includes ingredients that are restricted from select CVS store brand baby & child, beauty, personal care, foods, household and bottled spring water products.