CVS Health Joins Ceres Company Network
Pharmacy innovation leader advances commitments to social, environmental and economic sustainability
November 5, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Ceres announced today that its board of directors has approved CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), one of the country’s largest pharmacy companies, as the newest member of the sustainability advocacy group’s company network. Companies that join the Ceres network strive to integrate environmental and social performance into their business strategies and initiatives and to continuously improve performance. In joining the Ceres company network, CVS Health further advances its commitments to social, environmental and economic sustainability by engaging with key stakeholders, environmental and civil society groups.
CVS Health launched its “Prescription for a Better World” strategy for sustainability last year, focusing on building healthier communities, protecting the planet, and creating economic opportunities. In its 2013 Corporate Social Responsibility report, the company identified increasing access and affordability of health care, utilizing sustainable packaging, reducing prescription drug abuse, and mitigating its carbon footprint as principal sustainability priorities. This month, CVS Health implemented its decision to stop selling tobacco in its 7,700 stores nationwide and launched a comprehensive smoking cessation program.
“CVS Health is a company that clearly understands the inextricable link between health and sustainability,” said Mindy Lubber, President of the sustainability advocacy group, Ceres. “We look forward to working with the company as it continues to set and achieve goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving water and waste management, increasing renewable energy use and more.”
The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability outlines 20 expectations for sustainable corporations, including calling for strong governance to better position companies to anticipate and adapt to changing economic, social, environmental and other factors. CVS Health’s commitment to sustainability comes from the highest levels – the Board of Directors’ Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has oversight of the company’s corporate social responsibility activities, and an Environmental Leadership Council of senior-level executives reports directly to the company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, Larry Merlo.
“We are proud to be joining the distinguished group of companies in the Ceres network,” said Eileen Howard Boone, SVP of Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy. “We look forward to leveraging our partnership with Ceres to help benchmark best-practices in sustainability and impact measurement.”
CVS Health is the first pharmacy company to join the Ceres network, which includes 65 leading companies from sectors such as automotive, apparel and footwear, technology, food and beverage, and financial services. For a complete list of Ceres network members, visit http://www.ceres.org/company-network/company-directory.
About Ceres
Ceres is an advocate for sustainability leadership. Ceres mobilizes a powerful coalition of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy. Ceres directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a network of over 100 institutional investors with collective assets totaling more than $13 trillion. Ceres also directs Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), an advocacy coalition of nearly 30 businesses committed to working with policy makers to pass meaningful energy and climate legislation. For more information, visit www.ceres.org or follow on Twitter @CeresNews.
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through our 7,700 retail pharmacies, more than 900 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 65 million plan members, and expanding specialty pharmacy services, we enable people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable, effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at www.cvshealth.com.
