Pharmacy chain CVS this week announced plans to remove three chemical groups from hundreds of its store-brand products.
The company said that it would phase out the use of parabens, phthalates and select forms of formaldehyde from nearly 600 beauty and personal care products under the CVS Health, Beauty 360, Essence of Beauty and Blade brand names.
Products that include those substances will no longer be shipped to CVS warehouses as of the end of 2019, company officials said.
“We listened when customers voiced their desire for products that still provide the benefits they need with fewer ingredients of concern," Cia Tucci of CVS Health said in a statement. "Today’s announcement is a natural step in the evolution of our comprehensive approach to chemical safety.”
Formaldehyde is considered a carcinogen, while parabens and phthalates are linked to hormone disruption in humans.
The pharmacy chain cited consumer feedback for the decision and noted its work with the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition and the Chemical Footprint Project in recent years.
CVS also included a list of restricted chemicals — and their product categories — in the statement.
“We applaud CVS Health for the action it is taking today and we look forward to continued collaboration ahead," Mike Schade, director of SCHF's Mind the Store campaign, said in the CVS release. "We hope other retailers will follow suit.”