It is with great pride that we present to you the tenth annual Walgreens Boots Alliance ESG Report. Since we published our first report in 2015, the world has faced unprecedented change: a global pandemic, climate challenges and seismic socio-economic shifts. And as we reflect on the work captured in our reports over the past ten years, we are reminded of our commitment to retail pharmacy and healthcare services around the world. We believe that we have a fundamental role to play in our global communities and, as the world continues to change, our focus remains the same – building trusted relationships that enable healthier futures for our team members, customers, and patients.

As we lead this organization forward, we invite you to read this latest report on our progress against our four ESG pillars.

Healthy Communities: For our customers and patients across the globe, access to affordable healthcare has never been so critical. With 78% of Americans living within five miles of a Walgreens and 82% of the UK population within 10 minutes of a Boots, we are well positioned to serve our communities’ healthcare needs, but we cannot do it alone. As outlined in the partnerships goal of the UN SDGs that we align to and report on, in fiscal 2024 we continued to build upon the $400 million sum that we have contributed, in cash and in kind. For example, our partnership with Vitamin Angels, now in its eleventh year, has helped us provide life-changing vitamins and supplements to over 475 million women and children globally. 

Our very existence in the community enables us to play a fundamental role in providing immunizations. In fiscal 2024, Walgreens distributed vouchers worth $2.3 million to an additional 147,000 individuals, totaling $10.9 million since 2019. Also, in fiscal 2024, Boots in the UK administered 610,000 free flu vaccinations on behalf of the NHS.

Beyond that, cumulatively we also funded over 100 million vaccinations for children in developing countries through “Get a Shot. Give a Shot.” and the UN Foundation.

Healthy and Inclusive Workplace: We recognize the contribution of our own people, who work tirelessly to support our customers and patients. We remain committed to supporting their wellbeing, and this year we implemented a wide range of safety and first-aid training courses and focused on a commitment to being an inclusive workplace. Walgreens, for example, supports people with disabilities with a three- to six-week in-store training program that can lead to full-time employment. In fiscal 2024, Walgreens has rolled out this program to over 1,100 stores, which has led to more than 3,700 total participants since the project’s inception.

Sustainable Marketplace: It is imperative that we uphold the customer and patient trust that we are known for, which is why the integrity of the products and services we provide is a key differentiator for us. We are committed to providing high-quality, affordable products, and first-class service. In today’s omnichannel world, we understand the important role we play in enabling a responsible and sustainable marketplace, and this year’s report highlights important recognitions from reputable organizations such as B Corp and Cruelty Free International that underscore our commitment to a sustainable marketplace. An example of our commitment to helping our patients and customers access products is through our Sustainable Living at Boots online shopping tool where we offer 2,000 products with key sustainability attributes.

Healthy Planet: We are focused on our operational impacts and our own resiliency as the climate continues to change. This means continuing to reduce our carbon footprint as we have done for many years, as well as doing our part to mitigate future problems. Since 2019, we have increased recycling or reuse of over 620,000 Metric tonnes of materials diverted from disposal – an increase of 70% – and we installed new energy management systems in well over half of our U.S. stores as we accelerate our reduction in carbon emissions to meet a 30% reduction by 2030. A goal that we are well on track to reach.

We cannot underline our global responsibility enough, to be the first choice for retail pharmacy and health services in our markets across the world. We will continue to focus in our second decade on building trusted relationships that enable healthier futures for team members, customers, patients, communities and the planet.

Stefano Pessina  
Chairman of the Board,  
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 

Tim Wentworth
Chief Executive Officer,  
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.