Waste Management

Progress on global goal:

• FY2022 Global diversion rate: 67%
• Regional diversion rates:
• U.S.: 61%
• Canada: 88%
• Europe: 97%
• Australia: 61%
• GHG Emissions: Scope 3 (Waste Generated in Operations, Category 5)
• 46,700 metric tons of CO₂e
• Approximately 6% of TJX’s reported GHG emissions

Highlights across our geographies:

• In the U.S., T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods continued programs to reuse cardboard boxes throughout the network, and over 8.1 million reusable units of packaging were sent back from our stores through our network of Asset Recovery and Recycling Centers (ARRCs) to be returned to distribution centers for reuse. This effort not only was good for the environment, but it also resulted in nearly $9 million in cost avoidance.
• Our three distribution centers in Ontario, Canada, achieved a 90% diversion rate.
• In our European processing centers, we divert approximately 99% of waste from landfills and recycle plastic, wooden pallets, and cardboard that has been backhauled from our stores.

We have many programs across our global business that support our efforts to reuse and recycle our operational waste in our stores, distribution centers, and home offices. For example, recycling programs for common items like cardboard, plastic, paper, aluminum, and glass have been introduced across all geographies. We are working to improve our programs and find new ways to recycle other items, like polystyrene. One of our efforts involves our Asset Recovery Recycling Centers (ARRCs).

In the U.S., our 26 ARRCs are located within our service centers and have historically served as a central destination for regional recyclable or reusable store material. Select stores send used corrugated cardboard, plastic, excess hangers, store fixtures, display cases, unused boxes, and other supplies to their local ARRC, where the items are processed for reuse in other stores or recycled.

Over the years, the flexibility of the ARRC organization has enabled us to test new programs as we strive to increase the types of materials that can be included in our recycling stream. For example, as our global waste stakeholders have identified polystyrene (Styrofoam) as a key area of focus, we have leveraged the ARRC to pilot strategies to improve our management and recycling of polystyrene packaging material. Thanks to efforts like this and many others, we estimate the ARRCs have helped divert more than 378,000 metric tons of waste from landfills since Fiscal 2017.

In Europe, the ARRC operates as a reuse center for equipment that is not currently required in certain stores and fulfills other stores equipment needs. The ARRC also operates as a distribution and storage function for non-stock items, such as merchandise protection.

We have regional efforts in place to identify opportunities to remove single-use plastics from our operations and are working with our suppliers to reduce single-use packaging.

• In the U.S., we have a team who is working to improve the sustainability of the packaging used for certain products which supports our global goal to shift 100% of the packaging for products developed in-house by our product design team to be reusable, recyclable, or contain sustainable materials by 2030. Read more about our work in this area on our Responsible Sourcing page.
• In our U.S. Distribution Centers, we utilize a more easily recycled material and corrugated box insert for the packaging of liquid products during shipping from distribution centers to stores that has resulted in an estimated 12 million fewer plastic bags being used across our distribution network each year.
• In Canada, we established a single-use plastics committee in Fiscal 2021 comprised of representatives across several functional areas who are helping to drive our strategy around this topic. The group is reviewing where single-use plastics are used in our Canadian business and operations, and exploring and proposing alternatives where possible.
• In Europe, we are working to reduce single-use plastics from our offices, processing centers, and stores. To date, we have removed about one million plastic button bags from our products, use a recyclable paper in our e-commerce operations, and have removed single-use plastic bottles from our European stores. Learn about additional projects we’re involved in below.

Single-use plastic merchandise carry out bags

• TJX is a member of the Closed Loop Partners’ Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag, as the Apparel and Home Goods Sector Lead Partner.
• In Canada, single-use checkout bags were removed from 18 stores in Fiscal 2022 as part of a phased approach to eliminating them from all stores nationally by February 2023.
• In Europe, all single-use plastics bags were removed from stores in Fiscal 2021. Customers can purchase reusable bags made from over 90% recycled plastic and a portion of the proceeds goes to one of our charity partners.

Product Packaging

• By 2025, we are working to eliminate PVC from the packaging of certain top-of-bed styles, easy-care table linens, outdoor seating cushions, and outdoor pillows that are developed in-house by our product design team.
• By 2030, we are working to shift 100% of the packaging for products developed in-house by our product design team to be reusable, recyclable, or contain sustainable materials.
• Learn more about our Responsible Sourcing efforts.

We recognize there are environmental concerns created by textile waste, and we continue to explore how we can contribute to scalable solutions that support a more circular economy. For example, in certain parts of Canada, U.K., and Ireland, we have programs in place that support the reuse of clothing, accessories, shoes, homeware, and more.

In Canada, we partner with Brands for Canada at our distribution centers to provide second life for product by donating unsold clothing, personal care, and household items to people in need through trusted social service agencies and schools. Additionally, in an effort to streamline our store charity donations we have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to collect and manage our store donations across Canada.

In the U.K. and Ireland, our long-running Give Up Clothes For Good campaign invites customers and Associates to donate their pre-loved quality fashion and homeware at their local T.K. Maxx, which could be sold by Cancer Research U.K. to raise funds for research into children’s and young people’s cancers. As of Fiscal 2022, T.K. Maxx Associates and customers have donated nearly 1.9 million bags of goods. This amounts to 9,300 metric tons of pre-loved items diverted from landfill. The initiative not only benefits the environment because it may keep pre-loved items from going to landfill, but has also raised millions of pounds for Cancer Research U.K. for Children and Young People and Enable Ireland. Learn more about our efforts in the Communities section of this website.

Although our business operations are not water intensive, we believe reducing water usage is consistent with both our commitment to environmental sustainability and our low-cost operating philosophy. To that end, we work to monitor our water usage and identify opportunities to improve water efficiency where possible across our operations. For instance, our Energy Management groups in the U.S. and U.K. monitor water usage across our home office buildings to identify opportunities to conserve water including time-sensor technologies to control faucets in many of our restrooms.

Additionally, our TJX Vendor Code of Conduct strongly encourages our merchandise vendors to conserve and protect resources, such as water and energy, and also take into consideration environmental issues that may impact their local communities. Environmental concerns are incorporated into our merchandise vendor social compliance training materials as well, introducing high-level concepts of environmental sustainability, like water conservation. Our training includes specific cost-saving, water-conservation recommendations for our suppliers that they may consider implementing at their production facilities. We plan to continue including similar relevant water facts during future training sessions.