Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Boots score?

Boots has established a baseline carbon footprint in FY2022/23 using GHG Protocol Corporate Standard covering Scope 1 and 2. The Boots Group achieved a 37.1% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 vs 2019 baseline. The ESG Technical Report 2025 is assured on a limited basis by Deloitte LLP. However, Boots does not publicly disclose specific absolute tonnage figures for its own operations separate from the wider WBA/Boots Group entity, and the Carbon Reduction Plan PDF is not fully accessible for granular ve

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Boots score?

The Carbon Reduction Plan covers seven relevant Scope 3 categories (purchased goods, capital goods, fuel-related, upstream transport, waste, business travel, employee commuting, downstream transport). However, under WBA, Scope 3 reporting was limited to only business travel and downstream transportation (64,000 tCO2e in FY2023 for all of WBA) — far from a complete value chain assessment. The Boots Group has partnered with Manufacture 2030 (M2030) to help suppliers measure and reduce emissions, w

Emissions Trajectory: How does Boots score?

The Boots Group reports a 37.1% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions versus a 2019 baseline, exceeding the 30% by 2030 target five years early. Under the previous WBA structure, the group achieved 25% reduction by FY2023 and then a further 6% in FY2024 (total ~31%). This demonstrates consistent absolute reduction in operational emissions. However, Scope 3 emissions under WBA actually rose (from 61,000 to 64,000 tCO2e in FY2023 for the limited categories reported), and full value chain trajectory

Energy Source: How does Boots score?

Boots operates a CHP plant at its Nottingham site generating most energy for that location, but CHP runs on natural gas — not renewable. WBA reported only 6.6% of electricity consumed across the group was from renewable sources in FY2022, and Boots UK stores in Ireland use 100% certified renewable energy. There is no evidence of RE100 membership, no PPAs disclosed, and no stated renewable energy percentage for Boots UK stores specifically. LED lighting rollout and efficiency improvements (BMS, f

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Boots score?

Boots has sourcing standards including 100% RSPO physically certified palm oil for owned brands, certified sustainable forest products (FSC/recycled), and a cotton sourcing restriction regarding Xinjiang. These are positive avoidance measures. However, there is no TNFD-aligned disclosure, no quantified nature footprint, and no biodiversity assessment or restoration programme documented. For a retailer sourcing health, beauty and consumer products from 32+ countries, supply chain nature risks exi

Resource Use & Waste: How does Boots score?

Boots achieves less than 1% of waste going to landfill for the past several years. The Recycle at Boots scheme operates in 800 stores, diverting over 11 million hard-to-recycle items from landfill. No7 Beauty Company moved 120+ product lines to 70% post-consumer recycled material. Boots has also pioneered blister pack recycling and insulin pen recycling (PenCycle). Online deliveries are 100% plastics-free. Boots is a member of WRAP's Food Waste Reduction Roadmap with a 50% food waste reduction t

Water Impact: How does Boots score?

No water consumption data, water footprint assessment, or water reduction targets have been found for Boots UK or The Boots Group. As a pharmacy and beauty retailer with manufacturing operations (No7 production) and a large site in Nottingham, water consumption is moderate but not negligible. The supply chain (cosmetics ingredients, cotton products, palm oil) carries embedded water impacts. The absence of any water disclosure for a company of this scale and with manufacturing operations is a gap

Targets & Commitments: How does Boots score?

Boots' Carbon Reduction Plan states a commitment to SBTi by November 2026 — this is a commitment, not validated targets. The BRC Climate Action Roadmap pledges net zero by 2040 (Scope 2 by 2030, Scope 1 by 2035, Scope 3 by 2040). The 30% Scope 1&2 reduction target by 2030 has already been exceeded at 37.1%. These targets are specific and time-bound but self-set. The SBTi commitment deadline of November 2026 is approaching but targets remain unvalidated. No offsets reliance has been identified. T

Transparency & Accountability: How does Boots score?

The Boots Group published its first standalone ESG Report in March 2026 (FY2025), with a complementary ESG Technical Report aligned with GRI, SASB, and TCFD frameworks. The Technical Report is assured on a limited basis by Deloitte LLP. The ESG Committee is composed of senior leaders and meets at least four times a year. The Carbon Reduction Plan is board-signed and publicly available. However, this is the first standalone report post-Sycamore acquisition, and the company is not publicly listed,

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Boots score?

No greenwashing allegations, regulatory actions, fines, or environmental controversies have been found specifically targeting Boots UK. The company has not been named in CMA greenwashing investigations (unlike Asos, Boohoo, George). Boots is a member of the BRC, which is broadly supportive of UK climate policy. There is no evidence of lobbying against climate policy. The company has no InfluenceMap profile or documented climate-negative advocacy. A shareholder resolution was filed against WBA re

Boots Sustainability Score: 37/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Boots·Retail (non-fashion)·Nottingham, GB·Founded 1849·Last verified 22 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review

Boots has delivered measurable operational carbon cuts (37.1% Scope 1&2 vs 2019) and pioneered circular economy initiatives like hard-to-recycle product recycling. However, Scope 3 emissions remain incomplete, renewable energy adoption is weak at 6.6%, water impacts are entirely unreported, and SBTi targets remain unvalidated despite a November 2026 commitment deadline.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Retail (non-fashion) sector ceiling.

48 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

44 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 48) + (0.7 × 44) = 45.2

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

37 / 100

The ten questions

Where Boots is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 5/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (2/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Self-reported

Carbon Reduction Plan

2025

Q1Q2Q8

View →

[2]Self-reported

The Boots Group 2025 ESG Report

2025

Q1Q3Q6Q8Q9

View →

[3]Public record

Boots Launches New Emissions Initiative

2024

View →

[4]Public record

Walgreens Reports Spike in Scope 3 Emissions

2024

View →

[5]Self-reported

Walgreens Boots Alliance 2023 ESG Report

2024

View →

[6]Self-reported

Boots Environmental, Social and Governance

Ongoing

Q4Q5Q6

View →

[7]Public record

Walgreens Boots Alliance Going Greener with Energy Efficiency Tech

Unknown

View →

[8]Self-reported

The Boots Group Environmental, Social and Governance

Ongoing

Q5Q7Q9

View →

[9]Self-reported

boots-uk.com — environmental social governance

Unknown

Q10

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[10]Third-party verified

ICCR Shareholder Resolution: Walgreens Boots Alliance

Unknown

Q10

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If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Boots in context

Where Boots sits among retail (non-fashion) peers.

Among the 42 major retail (non-fashion) brands we've scored, Boots sits 28th of 42.

28/42

Boots's rank

Industry average

Industry low

Industry high

6John Lewis Partnership

7ALDI SOUTH Group

8B&Q

9Argos

10Selfridges

11Lidl

12Currys

14Wickes

21IKEA

22TK Maxx

23Harrods

24Specsavers

25Superdrug Stores

26Wm Morrison Supermarkets

28Boots

31Target

33ASDA

37Sports Direct (Frasers Group plc)

40Walmart

How this score has moved

Boots's score over time.

Score history begins 4 April 2026.

As Boots's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Boots

Boots is a UK pharmacy and health & beauty retailer operating ~1,800 stores, with manufacturing operations including the No7 Beauty Company. Part of The Boots Group (acquired by Sycamore Partners in 2023), it sources health, wellness and consumer products from 32+ countries and maintains a significant estate including a CHP facility in Nottingham.

Founded

1849

Headquarters

Nottingham, GB

Employees

~52,000

Annual revenue

~£6.5B

Company website ↗

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