2010/11 marketplace targets
Progress against the targets we set and published last year is as follows:
Target: To promote the understanding of approved corporate governance directives, policies and Code of Conduct and Business Ethics, and ensure that the directors and employees of Alliance Boots continue to act in accordance with these
During the year, in accordance with our own corporate policy, all CSR related policies were reviewed, updated as required and approved by the social responsibilities committee. The internal process by which each business manages their own CSR agenda was reviewed and approved by the local director responsible for CSR.
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
Achievement: Boots UK's Product Sustainability Assessment Process has been designed to evaluate the sustainability of their products against over 20 criteria. The process highlights the areas where actions can lead to the greatest improvements, as well as ensuring that Boots brand and exclusive products and ranges continue to become more sustainable over time.
Target: To raise over £1 million for charity partners across our business partners
Achievement: In the UK nearly £2.5 million was raised during the year for Macmillan Cancer Support and over £615,000 for the BBC Children In Need Appeal. In addition to raising proceeds, we continued to focus our efforts on raising awareness of those charities we support. For example, in Russia, our people each provided a Christmas present for a child in care, while Boots Opticians in the UK recovered glasses for use in the developing world.
Target: To extend the scope of our supplier verification programme beyond the existing supplier framework to include the manufacturing sites of other suppliers of own label goods to Alliance Boots and report outcomes in our annual corporate social responsibility report
Achievement: Boots UK continued to develop its award winning supplier verification programme in partnership with Business in the Community (“BITC”), following their independent review of Boots UK’s existing processes as reported last year. BITC’s updated assessment process now includes additional sustainability criteria and Boots UK’s programme of unannounced audits has been further extended in the UK and across Western Europe. In addition Boots UK’s supplier verification process has been introduced to other Alliance Boots businesses.
Target: To support public agencies and our healthcare suppliers along the supply chain in ensuring quality and in associated areas of education and public information
Achievement: We continue to support the public agenda by producing literature and running campaigns to increase public awareness of a number of health issues. Bootslearningstore.com is a website designed primarily for UK schools promoting healthy lifestyle messages to children and young people aged four to 16. It provides specific age-targeted information on a variety of topics to inspire young people and offers free resources that help teachers to deliver the school curriculum.
Target: To provide transparent and relevant corporate social responsibility information to our customers and stakeholders in line with GRI guidelines
Achievement: Our 2009/10 report was produced for the first time using data captured through our financial reporting system which has led to improvements in the consistency and reliability of the data. Our 2010/11 report includes an independent assurance report on 2010/11 CSR data issued by KPMG and independent commentary by Tomorrow’s Company. In addition, Boots UK continues to publish specific corporate social responsibility information relevant to its retail customers and UK stakeholders on its own website, www.boots-uk.com
The Group’s product testing policy statement is published on the Company’s website in the corporate governance section under the social responsibilities committee.
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