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In July 2021, Ethical Consumer viewed Amazon's website for its policy on the use of toxic chemicals in household and personal care products.

As Amazon sold own-brand household and personal care products, it was expected to have a policy on the use of the hazardous chemicals parabens, triclosan and phthalates.

Some forms or uses of these chemicals were banned or restricted in the EU or the USA.
Triclosan is an antibacterial and a suspected endocrine disruptor. Parabens are also endocrine disruptors and have been linked to breast cancer. They are used as preservatives. Phthalates, usually DEP or DBP, are used in fragrances and are endocrine disruptors.
A strong policy on toxics would be no use of these chemicals or clear, dated targets for ending their use.

Amazon had published a Restricted Substances List of which it was stated: “our first Restricted Substance List (RSL) identifies the chemicals that we seek to avoid in Amazon-owned Private Brands baby, household cleaning, personal care, and beauty products in the U.S. and Europe. [...] In particular, it focuses on paraben preservatives, formaldehyde donor preservatives, phthalate solvents, nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) surfactants, toluene, and triclosan.”
While Ethical Consumer acknowledged the progress made by Amazon with the introduction of a Restricted Substance List, it considered the statements to be weak. e.g. “We seek to avoid” and “all brands should work to phase out”. Ethical Consumer also expected to see quantified and dated targets applied to the policy.

As Amazon had a commitment to phase out the chemicals, but did not include phase-out dates, it received Ethical Consumer’s middle rating for its toxic chemicals policy for household and personal care products and lost half a mark in the Pollution and Toxics category.