Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. — Ethics Grade C-

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. receives an overall ethics grade of C- (48/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Retail. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 50
• privacy: 65
• consumer: 30
• environment: 55
• humanRights: 45

Documented incidents (3)

• Abating Opioid Nuisance (high, 2022) — Courts ruled that Walgreens substantially contributed to the opioid crisis by filling thousands of suspicious prescriptions and failing to maintain effective controls against diversion.
• Fraudulent Lab Tests Partnership (high, 2016) — Walgreens partnered with Theranos to offer blood tests to customers despite warnings about the technology's validity. Patients received thousands of inaccurate results, affecting medical decisions.
• Pharmacist Religious Refusal (medium, 2023) — The company faced backlash and legal scrutiny when pharmacists cited religious beliefs to refuse filling prescriptions for birth control and misoprostol, even when medically indicated.

Documented good deeds

• Red Nose Day Support — Raised over $300 million cumulatively to help end child poverty through global grants and health initiatives.

Ethical alternatives

• Rite Aid — While also involved in opioid settlements, Rite Aid has simpler clinical partnerships and localized community health focus.