January15,2018Ms.HelenaFoulkesPresidentCVSPharmacyOneCVSCircleWoonsocket,RhodeIsland,02895DearMs.Foulkes:TheEnvironmentalWorkingGroupapplaudsyetanotherbolddecisionbyCVSthatwillpositivelyaffectitscustomers’healthandwell-being.ThislateststepwillnodoubtreverberatetomanyofthecosmeticscompaniesthatsellandmarketproductsinCVS’snearly10,000U.S.stores.Forfartoolong,thecosmeticsindustryhastoldyoungpeoplethroughairbrushedadvertisementsthatbeautycomesinoneshapeandsize.ThisnewinitiativebyCVSwillgoalongwayinhelpingtodispelthatmyth.Asyounotedinyourstatement,theproliferationofunrealisticbodyimagesthroughdigitallyenhancedphotoshasestablishedharmfulhealtheffects.Andtheseimagesarealmostalwaysusedtomarketcosmeticsandotherproductstoyoungwomenandgirls.Whetheritispromotingbodyauthenticity,sellingproductsthatmeettransparentandstrictstandardsforhealth,orrevealingmoreinformationabouttheingredientsincosmetics,beingmoretransparentandopenwiththeconsumerisalwaysgoodforbusinessandtherightthingtodo.ThroughbothourSkinDeep®databaseofcosmeticsproductsandourverificationprogram,EWGVERIFIEDTM,EWGhaspushedpersonalcareproductmakerstodisclosemoreinformationaboutchemicalingredientsandfragrance.Moreandmoreconsumersaredemandingtransparency.WearehappytonotethatCVScarriesproductsthatareEWGVERIFIEDTM,meaningthattheyhavemetourhigheststandardsforhealth.Andlastyearalone,Procter&GambleandUnileverannouncedmajortransparencyinitiativestogivecustomersmoreinformationthaneverbeforeaboutfragranceingredients.

CVS’slatestmoveshowsthathowcosmeticsproductsareadvertisedandmarketedisjustasimportanttotheconsumerashowtheproductsaremade.Inrecentyears,CVShastakenotherimportantstepstohelpimprovethelivesofitscustomers,includingstoppingthesaleoftobaccoproducts.Thislatestdecisionisfurtherproofthatunderyourleadership,CVSistakingcrucialstepsinhelpingtoadvancethehealthandwell-beingoftheAmericanpeople.OnbehalfofmycolleaguesatEWG,wecongratulateCVSonitsimportantstepinadvancingthiscriticalconversation.Sincerely,

KenCookCo-founderandPresidentEWG