2008/09 marketplace targets

Progress against the targets we set and published last year is as follows:

Target: For the directors and employees of Alliance Boots to continue to act in accordance with approved corporate governance directives and the Group’s Code of Conduct

We continue to promote and monitor our compliance with the Group’s Code of Conduct. During the year we carried out a communications campaign to inform our people of the Code, which has also become an established part of the induction programme for new employees. In addition, key policy documents on issues such as health and safety are widely available to our people through our intranets.

Target: To act with complete integrity in the development of new products and services and maintain existing standards of stewardship for those that already exist

We continually look to improve the sustainability of our products and services. For example, with our Botanics branded products, we look to use plant-based rather than mineral ingredients where possible and work with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, UK, to develop our understanding in this area. In addition, we are finding ways to make our product packaging more sustainable. As signatories to the Courtauld Commitment, Boots UK has worked with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to design out the growth of packaging waste and increase the use of recycled materials. In addition, as part of Boots UK’s work with the Carbon Trust on product carbon footprinting, we have identified and are reducing the carbon impact of retail and transit packaging.

Target: To raise over £1 million for charity partners across our businesses

During 2008/09 we worked on a range of charitable initiatives in many countries, including BBC Children In Need and The Eve Appeal in the UK and Klokánek, a children’s charity project in the Czech Republic. In 2008/09 we donated around £1.5 million to our charity partners.

Target: Extend the scope of our supplier verification programme beyond the existing Boots brand supplier framework to include the manufacturing sites of other suppliers of own label goods to Alliance Boots

The first steps have been taken to broaden the scope of our existing supplier verification process. The verification process was started to be rolled out for our Alvita products during the year.