Barra chairs WBA’s CSR committee.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) announced on Tuesday that co-chief operating officer Ornella Barra was praised for her sustainability leadership at the Responsible Business Awards 2020, recognizing her innovation and her passionate commitment to promoting community health.

Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Ornella Barra

Barra chairs WBA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee and leads the company’s CSR strategy and partnerships with multiple organizations to have a tangible positive impact.

The Reuters Events Responsible Business Awards 2020 were announced on Friday at a virtual ceremony. The Business Leader Award category celebrates an outstanding business leader who has demonstrated pioneering, inspiring, motivational and passionate leadership, clear commitment to long-term impacts and a commitment to a sustainable future.

“Ornella is clearly someone that understands the importance of putting sustainability at the heart of the business. It’s clear where her passion lies and where she’s been most influential,” the Responsible Business Awards judges said in recognizing Barra.

Click here to see a video featuring highlights of  Barra’s sustainability leadership.

“I am so honored to receive this recognition, which is possible due to the incredible engagement of WBA’s dedicated people around the world. The global pandemic has made this a challenging year for everyone, but the health crisis has only reinforced our commitment to building healthy communities and operating sustainably. I’ve been so inspired to see how our businesses and colleagues continue to care about making a difference, protecting the planet for the future and building an ethical, diverse and inclusive company,” Ms. Barra said.

Since the formation of WBA in December 2014, Ms. Barra has been personally committed to ensuring the WBA CSR strategy is aligned with the company’s purpose of helping people around the world lead healthier and happier live. This healthcare centered strategy includes a focus on engaging with communities to improve societal health and well-being, protecting the planet, doing business fairly and with integrity and fostering a safe and inclusive workplace. Her focus on sustainability extends back more than 26 years during her leadership at Alliance Boots and Alliance Unichem.

Among her and the company’s recent achievements are the following:

• WBA received a Global Leadership Award by the United Nations Foundation (UNF) in 2016. The WBA CSR strategy is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Walgreens was number 13 on the Fortune Magazine Change the World 2019 list for its Balance Rewards for Healthy Choices healthcare innovation platform.
• Boots UK won the Business in the Community Responsible Business of the Year 2019-20 for supporting people with cancer through a long-term partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support.
• Walgreens has funded over 50 million vaccines through the Get a Shot. Give a Shot. program and its six-year partnership with the United Nations Foundation, and committed to an additional 50 million vaccines.
• Walgreens has helped provide life-changing vitamins to more than 250 million children and women through partnership with Vitamin Angels.
• Over £12.7 million has been raised for BBC Children in Need over a 15-year partnership with Boots UK and Boots Opticians, helping change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people.
• WBA has worked to decrease its carbon emissions through investment in energy efficiency.

“I feel a great responsibility to both my organization and the global community. Working to achieve the WBA mission from my role overseeing business operations and our CSR program provides me with insight into the strengths and intersections of these two functions. I personally believe that now, more than ever, this is the role of a business leader in the 21st century,” Barra said.