Rite Aid Releases Fourth Annual Environmental, Social and Governance Report
July 20 2022 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Company Provides Progress Updates and Standards
for Environmental Responsibility, DEI, Community Impact and
More
Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) today published its fourth annual
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, detailing the
company’s strategy and progress against goals over the past year.
This year’s report addresses the four ESG pillars introduced in the
company’s 2021 report: Thriving Planet, Thriving Business, Thriving
Workplace and Thriving Community.
“As a purpose-driven healthcare organization, we recognize the
need to do our part in minimizing our environmental footprint and
making a positive impact through our associates in the communities
we serve,” said Paul Gilbert, Chief Legal Officer overseeing ESG
efforts at Rite Aid. “Our advancement thus far is exciting, and we
look forward to further progress in the months and years
ahead.”
This year’s report furthers Rite Aid’s commitment to
transparency and accountability on important topics and acts as a
benchmark to help inform future ESG priorities and goals.
Thriving Planet Rite Aid advanced its objective of
reducing the company’s environmental impact by lessening energy
demand, transitioning to lower carbon energy sources, minimizing
waste and improving fleet efficiency. Specifically:
- Rite Aid expanded its partnership with 3 Phases Renewables to
purchase 50% renewable power at select stores in Southern
California to include an additional 150 stores, the Thrifty ice
cream plant and a distribution center.
- By the end of 2021, 42% of Rite Aid stores had transitioned to
LED lighting. The company is on track to complete a goal of
installed LED lighting at 100% of its stores by 2035.
- Throughout 2021, Rite Aid diverted more than 76,000 tons of
recyclable material from landfills through its recycling
programs.
Thriving Business Rite Aid is working to embed
sustainability in every level of its value chain, improving supply
chain transparency and engagement, formalizing environmental and
social sourcing guidelines and policies and enhancing consumer
transparency around sustainable products and sourcing. To support
these goals:
- Rite Aid utilizes the services of independent, third-party
auditors to evaluate supplier partners’ compliance in both security
and social accountability. In 2021, Rite Aid audited 51 factories,
and while the vast majority received an overall acceptable rating,
Rite Aid ended relationships with seven suppliers that did not
correct deficiencies identified in the audit.
- Rite Aid held its first supplier sustainability summit, meeting
with more than 75 different suppliers showcasing products that
support whole health and clean ingredients across categories such
as food and beverage, health and beauty care and general
merchandise.
- Rite Aid accelerated plans to source 100% cage-free eggs in all
of locations by the end of 2022. In 2016, Rite Aid committed to
providing 100% cage-free eggs to stores by 2025. The new goal
represents the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing and
advancing sustainable and ethical practices.
Thriving Workplace To encourage a thriving workplace and
optimize associate experience, opportunity and well-being across
the organization, Rite Aid is implementing a transformative DEI
strategy and recruitment and retention practices to drive positive
business outcomes.
- In 2021, the company introduced the DEI Talent Network, an
employee resource group aimed at promoting diversity and health and
wellness equity, improving the workplace and community and
providing professional development opportunities. Rite Aid also
developed a new DEI strategy roadmap, which includes the
integration of DEI into human resource policies as well as business
processes.
- Also in 2021, Rite Aid announced its decision to be a
remote-first employer, allowing more flexibility for associates to
balance work and family priorities. The policy underscores Rite
Aid’s commitment to modernize the workplace and allows the company
to recruit the best talent regardless of location.
Thriving Community Rite Aid continues to improve health
equity, outcomes and access to care in the communities it
serves.
- Over the past year, Rite Aid has improved access to COVID-19
vaccines in neighborhoods across the country, partnering with
organizations such as the Newark Equitable Vaccine Initiative and
the NAACP and the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO to set up clinics
for vulnerable or underserved populations. To date, Rite Aid has
administered over 17 million COVID-19 vaccines.
- Also in 2021, Rite Aid pharmacists received training to become
certified integrative pharmacy specialists, and now are able to
counsel on both traditional and alternative remedies, ensuring
customers receive the best whole-health consultations.
- Rite Aid continues to help combat the opioid crisis in the
United States. Through the DEA National Take Back Days, more than
792 tons of unused medications were removed from homes and more
than 80,000 pounds removed from Rite Aid in-store medication
disposal kiosks. Rite Aid distributed 412,354 Dispose Rx packets
free of charge to assist opioid patients in quickly and safely
disposing unused excess opioids.
New this year, Rite Aid proclaimed its support of eight of the
17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which
are designed to facilitate significant global development by 2030.
The report maps Rite Aid ESG achievements and priorities to the
eight goals, including Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing,
Affordable and Clean Energy, Gender Equality, Decent Work and
Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities, Responsible Consumption and
Production, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
About Rite Aid Corporation Rite Aid is a full-service
pharmacy that improves health outcomes. Rite Aid is defining the
modern pharmacy by meeting customer needs with a wide range of
vehicles that offer convenience, including retail and delivery
pharmacy, as well as services offered through our wholly owned
subsidiaries, Elixir, Bartell Drugs and Health Dialog. Elixir, Rite
Aid’s pharmacy benefits and services company, consists of
accredited mail and specialty pharmacies, prescription discount
programs and an industry leading adjudication platform to offer
superior member experience and cost savings. Health Dialog provides
healthcare coaching and disease management services via live online
and phone health services. Regional chain Bartell Drugs has
supported the health and wellness needs in the Seattle area for
more than 130 years. Rite Aid employs more than 6,400 pharmacists
and operates more than 2,350 retail pharmacy locations across 17
states. For more information, visit www.riteaid.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220719006123/en/
MEDIA: Alicja Wojczyk 585-957-4060 Press@RiteAid.com
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