CVS

In April 2022, CVS released a written, publicly available pollinator protection policy encouraging suppliers of store brand goods to avoid use of neonicotinoids, organophosphates and glyphosate. The company recognizes that not only do these pesticides harm pollinators, they pose significant health hazards for agricultural workers and the communities surrounding agricultural lands. The policy also links to a list of regrettable substitutes to avoid. The policy encourages suppliers to adopt least-toxic approaches to pest management, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and it recognizes organic agriculture as a method to reduce pesticide use.  CVS also states that the company will offer trainings for supply chain partners on sustainable approaches to pesticide management in alignment with its policy. In 2020, CVS communicated to Friends of the Earth that the company is committed to increasing organic products in its store brand portfolio.

CVS’s policy does not include any timebound or measurable commitments to phase out pesticides of concern or expand the adoption of least-toxic practices in its food supply chains.

Commitment to reduce pesticide use

7 out of 15 points

Avoiding regrettable substitutes

5 out of 5 points

Commitment to least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

3 out of 10 points

Commitment to organic

5 out of 15 points

CVS conducted a pilot analysis of pesticide use in key own brand commodity chains. CVS reports that 100% of coffee is Fair Trade certified and that 19% of own brand food and 5% of beverages are certified organic.

CVS has not taken any other discernible action to reduce use of pesticides of concern to pollinator and human health or expand organic farming and other least-toxic approaches in its supply chains. The actions we evaluated include: 1) tracking use of pesticides in company supply chains, 2) measurably reducing pesticide use in the past three years and publicly reporting on data, 3) supporting farmers in non-organic supply chains to shift to least-toxic approaches such as integrated pest management and regenerative agriculture, 4) measurably expanding organic offerings in the past three years, 5) demonstrating support for U.S. growers to transition to organic farming, and 6) demonstrating advocacy for public policies aimed at reducing agricultural pesticide use, protecting pollinators and supporting the expansion of organic agriculture in the U.S.

Track pesticide use in supply chain

3 out of 10 points

Measurably reduce pesticide use

0 out of 15 points

Prioritize least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains

1.5 out of 20 points

Prioritize USDA certified organic

6 out of 25 points

Support domestic organic growers

0 out of 15 points

Support public policies

0 out of 5 points

CVS’s pollinator protection policy is publicly available on its website.

CVS does not have publicly available commitments or policies related to reducing use of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health in its supply chain. CVS does not appear to include reduction of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health or expansion of organic offerings in company Key Performance Indicators or other formal sustainability criteria. CVS does not have educational content online about pesticides or organic farming, such as a full definition of the USDA certified organic label (prohibition of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, and growth hormones, and promotion of farming methods that protect soil, water and biodiversity) or content on the value to pollinator and human health of decreasing use of toxic pesticides and expanding organic offerings.

Make policies and commitments publicly available

6 out of 6 points

Oversight

0 out of 5 points

Educate consumers

0 out of 10 points

CVS has communicated with Friends of the Earth in the past year and has briefed Friends of the Earth on meaningful action the company has taken on pesticides and pollinator protection in the past three years.

CVS does not sell glyphosate and neonicotinoid products from store shelves.

CVS has not made a public commitment to reduce or phase out use of neonicotinoids in live goods and garden plants.

Policy for live goods

0 out of 4 points

Policy for on-shelf pesticide products

5 out of 5 points