Environment

Resilient and sustainable operations

We operate responsibly at the center of the human and animal health pharmaceutical supply chain, enabling the safe, efficient, and responsible delivery of lifesaving medications and healthcare services. 

Watch Our Purpose in action: Resilient and sustainable operations to see how Cencora puts corporate responsibility into practice — advancing responsible, resilient operations that support reliable healthcare delivery.

Available in English only.

We bring innovation and efficiency to the supply chain

We operate at the center of the human and animal health pharmaceutical supply chain, enabling the safe, efficient, and responsible delivery of lifesaving medications and healthcare services. To strengthen business continuity, we prioritize resilience by implementing advanced forecasting systems, equipping facilities with backup power sources, and conducting regular emergency preparedness training to mitigate the impact of severe weather on our operations.

Guided by our commitment to operating sustainably, we invest in innovative solutions for our buildings, product packaging, and transportation, collaborating with partners to amplify our impact. We align our corporate responsibility reporting with leading global frameworks.

Progress on our Science-Based Targets

Cencora’s climate strategy is guided by validated near-term Science-Based Targets (SBTs), with the following goals:
54.6%
Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions by 54.6 percent by fiscal 2032, compared to our re-baselined fiscal 2019 values. The recalculation of base year emissions in 2025 was to reflect improved data accuracy and integration across global operations, enhancing the integrity and comparability of our targets over time.
82%
Engage 82 percent of our suppliers by spend to set their own Science Based Targets by 2027, recognizing that the vast majority of our emissions come from our global supply chain.

Product integrity and patient safety

Cencora’s global infrastructure and technology support product integrity, prioritize patient safety, and drive a secure pharmaceutical supply chain. In fiscal 2025, we advanced product traceability, optimized storage conditions, and enhanced reusable packaging with temperature monitoring to safeguard shipments. Through proactive partnerships and innovative solutions, we look every day for both micro and macro opportunities to improve our operations, support healthcare providers, and protect patients worldwide.
After more than 12 years of preparation, Cencora is proud to be at the forefront of implementing the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) in our U.S. operations.
This federal law enhances the traceability of prescription drugs across the supply chain, protecting patients from counterfeit and illegitimate products.
Our teams have worked purposefully to prepare for this milestone by installing new equipment, advancing systems, educating the industry, and collaborating with trading partners, including manufacturers, distributors, and providers.

Supplier Engagement and Resiliency

At Cencora, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures. Our Supplier Engagement & Resiliency Program (SE&R) is an essential part of this mission, reflecting our commitment to fostering belonging and innovation in the global communities we serve. This program, embedded within our Strategic Global Sourcing Team (SGS), partners with small and disadvantaged businesses, aiming to drive economic growth, create opportunities, and deliver impactful change. 

Aligned with our Corporate Responsibility principles, Cencora’s SE&R Program is designed to support sustainable economic impact. By increasing revenues for small and disadvantaged businesses, creating jobs in underserved communities, and driving innovation, we contribute to building a more sustainable global economy.

Team member health and safety

The health and safety of our team members is a cornerstone of our purpose in action. Over the past year, we made significant strides in enhancing safety protocols, improving workplace culture, and fostering an environment where every team member feels supported and protected.

Emergency preparedness and disaster response

Delivering life-saving medications is a responsibility that demands reliability, even in the most challenging circumstances. Our global teams have worked with unwavering dedication to ensure that patients receive critical therapies, no matter the disruptions caused by natural disasters, extreme weather, or other emergencies.

Cybersecurity, data protection and privacy

Cencora is committed to robust cybersecurity, actively monitoring for breaches, and working to comply with compliance with regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Helping combat the opioid addiction

Cencora’s wholesale pharmaceutical distribution business plays a key, but specific, role of providing safe access to thousands of important medications to enable healthcare providers to serve patients with a wide array of clinical needs across the healthcare spectrum. A small part of this includes the distribution of opioids and other controlled substances from manufacturers to neighborhood pharmacies and pharmacy chains, as well as to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other clinical settings. As opioid addiction continues to impact patients and families, we are taking a proactive, collaborative approach to help combat opioid misuse and abuse while also seeking to ensure access for patients with legitimate medical needs.

We have taken substantial steps to help prevent the diversion of controlled substances. Cencora has a sophisticated diversion control program through which the Company provides daily reports to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration about the quantity, type, and receiving pharmacy of every order of controlled substances that we distribute. We also work closely with other healthcare stakeholders, government entities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, individuals our nonprofit partners to support prescription drug safety and mental health resources in local communities. We continuously evaluate, enhance, strengthen and expand the proven measures that we have implemented to maintain the integrity of every order we ship.

Distributors such as Cencora do not manufacture or create supply or demand for opioids. The distribution of opioid medicines represents less than one percent of our annual revenue, and we do not offer our sales team members incentives based on opioid sales.

More details on our efforts to ensure safe and secure distribution, maintain operational integrity, and support legislation can be found in our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and on the investor relations section of our website at investor.cencora.com/overview/default.aspx

Explore our other corporate responsibility pillars

People

Purpose-driven team members

We put people first by collaborating openly across our organization to foster an engaged work environment and uphold high ethical and compliance standards.

Business and community

Healthy communities

We aim to broaden access to healthcare and accelerate health outcomes in communities and for our customers around the world.

View the report

At Cencora, we are united in our responsibility to create healthier futures.
 
Available in English only.

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