Boots UK — Ethics Grade C-

Boots UK receives an overall ethics grade of C- (45/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Telecommunications. Market cap: Mid Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 40
• privacy: 65
• consumer: 35
• environment: 50
• humanRights: 55

Documented incidents (3)

• Emergency Contraceptive Pricing (medium, 2017) — Boots faced backlash for refusing to lower the price of emergency contraception, citing fears of 'incentivizing inappropriate use,' unlike competitors.
• Pandemic Job Cuts (medium, 2020) — The company cut thousands of jobs during the pandemic despite receiving government furlough support, leading to union criticism.
• Tax Evasion Allegations (medium, 2016) — Reports suggested the parent company moved profits to low-tax jurisdictions, potentially avoiding millions in UK tax.

Documented good deeds

• Hygiene Poverty Campaign — Partnered with The Hygiene Bank to donate millions of products to those living in poverty.

Ethical alternatives

• Superdrug — Consistent lower pricing on healthcare essentials and better accessibility.