Recognizing the important role retailers play in corporate responsibility and as stewards of the environment, Walgreens affirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, innovative technology and renewable energy initiatives during Earth Week 2012.
Walgreens has a long-standing commitment to reducing energy usage and creating ways to reduce its carbon footprint. Currently, the drugstore chain has 134 solar panel installations at its stores, distribution centers and corporate headquarters, giving Walgreens more solar installations than any other retailer in the country. In addition, the company utilizes an energy management system that monitors electricity, water, lighting, refrigeration temperatures, heating and cooling and waste management at more than 3,000 stores to help reduce energy usage and maintenance costs while extending equipment life. As more people choose greener lifestyles, Walgreens today is also America's largest retail host of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and has plans to offer this service at 800 locations. Drivers can already top off and charge while doing errands or traveling along major commuter routes in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Orlando, Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Seattle and Washington, D.C. “Environmental sustainability is part of Walgreens commitment to help our customers live well, stay well and get well, and that’s why it’s important to be a first mover with EV charging stations,” said Walgreens director of energy and sustainability Menno Enters. “Sustainability is not only smart for our communities and planet but makes good business sense. The feedback we are receiving from customers and team members about all of our sustainability initiatives has been very positive, and we will continue to find ways to lead in this space.” Walgreens Sustainability Milestones Walgreens is among dozens of companies–and the only drugstore chain–to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge. As part of the challenge, Walgreens is committed to reducing its energy usage by 20 percent across all of its stores and facilities by 2020. In 2010, the company became the nation’s first drugstore chain to install a geothermal energy system at one of its stores in Oak Park, Ill. The company’s Mira Mesa, Calif., location also became the first drugstore to receive LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. About Walgreens As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector.
The company operates 7,847 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
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