Community Involvement

Ornella also chairs the Alliance Boots Social Responsibilities Committee. As Chairman, she is personally involved in deciding the Group's policies on the environment, health and safety, diversity and equal opportunities, interethnic relations, disabled employment, charity and ethics.

In 2008/09 the commitment of Alliance Boots towards social responsibility was reflected in services and donations totalling some £4.6 million. A large part of this contribution was in the form of pharmacy-related projects. For example, over 600 practising pharmacists were involved in community health-related events in the UK. The Group also welcomes the government agenda on specific consumer issues. Alliance Boots makes a significant contribution to the fight against cancer (in the UK, Boots has signed an agreement with Macmillan Cancer Support, one of the leading UK charities providing medical and financial support to cancer patients), or raising awareness of the issue of blood pressure in France, Spain and the Czech Republic via the European network of independent pharmacists Alphega Pharmacy.

Alliance Boots is also committed to lowering its CO₂ emissions. In 2009 it passed a major milestone with a year-on-year reduction in emissions of 1.3%.

Along with her colleagues, Ornella is committed to improving the sustainability of Alliance Boots products and services. For the Botanics range, for example, the Group works closely with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, using plant ingredients instead of mineral ingredients wherever possible.

In a recent survey of British consumers carried out by the Reputation Institute, the reputation of Alliance Boots was considered excellent. According to the survey, the Group enjoys high levels of consumer confidence, admiration and respect. Alliance Boots came top out of a total of 140 international companies.

Business in the Community International

Ornella is a member of the leadership team of Business in the Community International (BITC International), an international association based in London and dedicated to corporate social responsibility. BITC has over 830 members and works closely with companies to help break down social barriers and improve working conditions. The leadership team is committed to investing in young people, guaranteeing access to the workplace for the most vulnerable and encouraging firms to recognise the importance of investing in the community.