DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced the release of its fiscal 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance 2021 (ESG) Report, which outlines the company’s commitment to its four corporate responsibility pillars – Healthy Communities, Healthy Planet, Healthy and Inclusive Workplace and Sustainable Marketplace – all at the heart of its purpose to create more joyful lives through better health.
The Report highlights the company’s work in health and vaccine equity while also outlining the ongoing progress WBA has made on sustainability targets and initiatives, including a reduction in global carbon emissions by 14.9 percent from a 2019 baseline.
“We have made much progress over the past year, solidifying our ongoing commitment to our four pillars,” said Ornella Barra, WBA’s Chief Operating Officer, International and Chair of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. “At Walgreens Boots Alliance, we have cemented our role as a corporate leader, led by example with our health equity initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and laid the groundwork for our part in creating a sustainable and livable planet for the generations who will come after us.”
Highlights from Fiscal 2021
The company made strides in its efforts to serve the greater good and be a true citizen of change through their actions and programs:
- Partnered with hundreds of community organizations on its Vaccine Equity Initiative to combat vaccine hesitancy and ensure life-saving immunizations reach communities that struggle to access healthcare.
- Administered more than 34 million COVID-19 vaccinations in fiscal 2021, including more than 15 million doses in high social vulnerability impact areas.
- Launched an innovative Recycle @ Boots in-store recycling program through Boots UK and No7 Beauty Company to provide hard-to-recycle beauty, health and wellness items in more than 700 stores.
- Increased proportion of women in leadership roles globally by 2.3 percentage points.
- Donated more than 680,000 toiletries and essentials to people living in hygiene poverty through its partnership with The Hygiene Bank, Boots UK and No7 Beauty Company.
- Launched a global Supplier Sustainability Program for WBA owned brands.
Six months into fiscal 2022, WBA continues its progress with a commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030 from a 2019 baseline. More than 1 million hard-to-recycle items have now been deposited in the Recycle @Boots program. In addition, to combat maternal health disparities, Walgreens launched a pilot program with partner Vitamin Angels to provide free prenatal vitamins to expectant mothers in select Chicago stores. Those are just two examples of the continuing progress WBA has made in its corporate responsibility pillars.
“I am so encouraged by the remarkable and impactful progress we’ve made over the years,” said Richard Ellis, Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, WBA. “We will continue to move forward in an effort to reimagine healthcare for a new era while doing all we can to inspire more joyful lives through better health with our sustainability initiatives and healthcare commitments.”
Notes to Editors:
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities.
A trusted, global innovator in retail pharmacy with approximately 13,000 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin America, WBA plays a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem. The company is reimagining local healthcare and well-being for all as part of its purpose – to create more joyful lives through better health. Through dispensing medicines, improving access to a wide range of health services, providing high quality health and beauty products and offering anytime, anywhere convenience across its digital platforms, WBA is shaping the future of healthcare.
WBA has more than 315,000 team members and a presence in nine countries through its portfolio of consumer brands: Walgreens, Boots, Duane Reade, the No7 Beauty Company, Benavides in Mexico and Ahumada in Chile. Additionally, WBA has a portfolio of healthcare-focused investments located in several countries, including China and the U.S.
The company is proud of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. WBA has been recognized for its commitment to operating sustainably: it is an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and was named to the 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2021.
More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com. (WBA-GEN)
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.