Lowe's Companies, Inc.
LOW
Consumer Discretionary
1
exclusion reason
1 theme
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. But it is subject to change as our understanding of the facts evolves.
Lowe's is the only company in EPA history to receive two consent decrees for the same lead paint renovation safety violations. The first (2014, $500K penalty) required RRP compliance across 1,700+ stores. EPA found 250+ violations in 23 states (2019-2021) from Lowe's own compliance reports, resulting in a $12.5M penalty (November 2025) — 25x the original fine. The settlement requires 4,000 jobsite inspections and three years of reporting but does NOT require remediation of affected homes or dust testing for exposed families. Separately, 118+ California stores illegally dumped hazardous waste (pesticides, paint, solvents, batteries, fluorescent bulbs) in landfills for 6.5 years (2007-2013), including materials collected from customer recycling kiosks. Settlement: $18.1M, prosecuted by 32 district/city attorneys. Cumulative environmental penalties exceed $30.6M.
Research Sources
3 organizations
Related Exclusions
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Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
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