Pharmacy2U wins first UK online pharmacy B Corp nod

Pharmacy2U has become the first and only online pharmacy in the UK to achieve B Corp certification, placing the Leeds-based business within a global group of companies assessed for social and environmental performance.

The company, which describes itself as the UK's largest online pharmacy and digital healthcare platform, has secured the certification following an external assessment across governance, workers, community, environment and customers. These five areas form the basis of the B Impact Assessment used for accreditation.

Pharmacy2U scored 91.4 points out of a possible 200 on the assessment. The minimum score for certification is 80, while the median score is 55. The assessors commended the company in the Customers category, where it presented evidence of positive health outcomes associated with its services.

B Corp status reflects a set of standards on transparency and accountability as well as social and environmental practices. The framework covers board oversight, workforce conditions, supply chain, environmental management and customer impact.

Pharmacy2U said the certification aligned with its focus on sustainable growth and responsibility towards people and the environment. The business has introduced measures that target energy use, waste reduction, recycling levels, governance processes and employee wellbeing, alongside its digital healthcare services for patients.

The company operates from sites in Leeds, Leicestershire and London and serves more than 1.6 million patients across the UK. It works as an NHS partner on repeat prescriptions and other digital health services.

Workforce focus

Pharmacy2U has held Great Place To Work certification for two consecutive years. It has set up a committee linked to that programme that includes workers from across the organisation. The group discusses staff feedback, benefits packages and volunteering initiatives. The company has also created internal support groups such as Menopause Cafes and men's health forums. These sit alongside its broader focus on staff wellbeing and engagement.

Pharmacy2U said it aimed to maintain regular dialogue with customers. It gathers feedback across digital channels and through formal reviews. The business has more than 612,000 reviews on Trustpilot and an overall "excellent" rating on the platform.

The company said it had acted on many customer suggestions collected through these channels. It positions this approach as part of its work in the Customers impact area under the B Corp framework.

Kevin Heath, Chief Executive Officer at Pharmacy2U, said the certification represented a key step for the organisation.

"This important milestone reflects our long-standing commitment to being a force for good in the UK's critical national pharmacy sector. It validates the work our teams do every day to deliver on sustainability, people, and planet.

"We're proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a global community of companies dedicated to building a more equitable and sustainable future. This isn't the end of the journey; it raises the bar for how we will continue to operate, innovate, and lead with purpose long into the future," said Heath.

ESG strategy

The company has built an internal environmental, social and governance programme with a dedicated group of ESG sponsors from different functions. The programme sits alongside its operational expansion as a digital provider of prescriptions and other health services.

Those services include free fully tracked delivery of NHS prescriptions, family accounts to manage medicines for dependants, and access to NHS initiatives such as Pharmacy First and the Pharmacy Contraception Service. Pharmacy2U also runs an online doctor service for conditions including sexual health, weight management and skin problems, as well as a health and wellness shop and pet medicines offer.

Laura Turnbull, Chief People Officer at Pharmacy2U, said the accreditation followed a collective effort across the business.

"Leading our ESG strategy and achieving B Corp certification at Pharmacy2U, together with our dedicated group of ESG Sponsors, has been a truly collaborative and cross-functional effort. I'm incredibly proud of how committed we are as a business to improving the lives of our people, patients, and the planet. I'm continually inspired by the positive impact our teams create every day. This is an important step for us, and we'll keep working hard to do even better."

The B Corp framework will expand from five to seven impact areas in 2026. Pharmacy2U said it plans to improve its score year on year as those new standards come into effect and embed its ESG agenda further across operations.