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August 17, 2026Dollar Tree expands chemical safety policy with new restrictions and greater supplier transparency
This year, Dollar Tree published an expanded Chemical Management Policy that commits to restrict more harmful chemicals in key private-label product categories, including food packaging, children’s products, and formulated products such as beauty, personal care and household cleaning products.
“We applaud Dollar Tree’s efforts to eliminate chemicals linked to endocrine disruption, learning disabilities, cancer and reproductive harm from its shelves,” said José Bravo, Coordinator of the Campaign for Healthier Solutions. “Families deserve safe products and healthy food no matter where they shop.”
Dollar Tree’s Chemical Management Policy follows the lead of other retailers and the most protective state laws, and commits to restrict the following harmful substances beyond what is federally required, such as:
PFAS: Dollar Tree committed to restrict the entire class of per and poly fluorinated chemicals (PFAS) from private-brand formulated products, as well as children’s toys and products by 2027. It already restricts PFAS in food products and packaging and pet food products and packaging. Dollar Tree’s Chemical Policy proactively follows the lead of California state law, by restricting PFAS in its private-brand cosmetics nationwide; recent studies confirm that some brands intentionally use PFAS in the formulation of cosmetics including eye shadow and eye liner. Dollar Tree’s PFAS policy could be further improved by restricting the intentional use of PFAS in its textiles and cookware.
Formaldehyde releasers: Dollar Tree committed to restrict formaldehyde-releasing chemicals from its private-brand formulated products by the end of 2028. Here, Dollar Tree proactively follows the lead of Washington state law, and admirably extends the restriction nationwide. Product screening by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions found a formaldehyde-releasing chemical in “Baby Shark” themed baby lotion sold by Dollar Tree in 2025; these cancer-causing preservatives are also common in many beauty products marketed to Black and Latina women.
Parabens: Dollar Tree committed to restrict four parabens from its private-label formulated products. This commitment goes beyond what is required in any U.S. state. Product screening published by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including parabens, in several products sold at Dollar Tree in 2025.
BPA and BPS: Dollar Tree committed to restrict endocrine-disrupting BPA and BPS from food packaging and food contact materials by 2028. Testing commissioned by the Campaign for Healthier Solutions has detected BPA in several cooking pans sold at Dollar Tree, and BPS in receipt paper provided by Dollar Tree.
Dollar Tree’s Chemical Management policy also makes strides towards chemical transparency and accountability. By the end of 2027, Dollar Tree will publicly report more information on its supply chain, such as the proportion of its suppliers private-brand formulated products that is fully screenable on UL WERCSmart and the percentage of fully screenable private brand formulated product assortment that is free of the Priority Chemicals on its Restricted Substance List. The company also commits to reduce restricted chemicals present in in-scope household chemicals and air fresheners by 50% in two years and require its suppliers to declare that no PFAS have been intentionally used in food and children’s products by the end of 2027.
"Protecting people's health starts with reducing everyday exposures to harmful chemicals," said Cheri Peele, director of government and market policy at Toxic-Free Future. "Dollar Tree’s expanded commitments show how retailers can use their purchasing power to move suppliers toward safer alternatives and drive meaningful change throughout their supply chains. We hope this momentum encourages retailers across the industry to continue raising the bar."
Dollar Tree’s Chemical Management Policy is notably more protective than that of its discount retail competitor, Dollar General. Dollar General’s Restricted Substance List applies only to its private-label formulated products in the home cleaning, automotive, hardware and personal care; whereas Dollar Tree restricts more substances from private-label products in more aisles of the store, including children’s products, food and food packaging.
“Dollar Tree’s new commitments do a lot to reassure shoppers that the company is taking their concerns about chemical safety seriously, and setting up systems of accountability to ensure it keeps improving in the future,” said Bravo. “This policy should only keep getting stronger.”
Regrettably, Dollar Tree abandoned its 2021 commitment to phase out PVC plastic in private-label children’s products.
Dollar Tree’s Chemical Policy restricts ortho-phthalate plasticizers, lead, and cadmium in all children’s products and toys, which are some of the most harmful PVC additives. But PVC plastic can contain other harmful additives that are not addressed in the company’s updated chemical policy, and PVC manufacturing is highly polluting.
“Our testing shows that the poison plastic PVC is found all over the toy aisle of the dollar store. PVC toys can leach heavy metals, plasticizers and organotins that are damaging to children’s development. We urge Dollar Tree to recommit to restricting PVC in kid’s products,” said Deyadira Arellano of Texas Environmental Advocacy Services (T.e.j.a.s). “Many kids in Houston are already exposed to hazardous chemicals from PVC manufacturing plants near their homes and schools. Kids shouldn’t be exposed to PVC in their toys.”
Available for Comment
Deidre Nelms; Communications Director; Coming Clean; (802) 251-0203 ext. 711, dnelms@comingcleaninc.org.