New ranking measures how Europe’s biggest retailers report on sustainability

First CSR Retail Index finds Carrefour, Eroski and Jerónimo Martins out in front as EU tightens disclosure rules

A new benchmark has been created to track how Europe’s largest retailers are meeting their sustainability commitments, at a time when companies are facing tougher EU requirements to disclose their environmental and social impact and the risks they face. 

The CSR Retail Index, compiled from the 2024 sustainability reports of 15 major retail groups, measures performance against 16 indicators ranging from energy use and emissions reduction to food waste, sourcing policies and workforce inclusion. Each company receives an overall score together with separate ratings for environmental, social and governance practices.

Carrefour, Eroski, and Jerónimo Martins top the overall ranking, thanks to “strong and balanced performance across the three ESG pillars”.

Carrefour was recognised for linking executive pay to sustainability targets, cutting indirect emissions and improving energy efficiency, while Eroski stood out for its work on food-waste reduction, sustainable sourcing and eco-design. Jerónimo Martins, meanwhile, was praised for inclusive hiring programmes and responsible supply-chain management.

The index, created jointly by ESSEC Business School in France and the French consultancy BDO, was developed around Europe’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which replaces earlier rules and introduces a common framework known as the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. 

It applies the principle of ‘double materiality’, requiring companies to disclose both their impact on society and the environment and on how sustainability issues could affect their business. 

The ranking will be published annually, with coverage widening as the directive is extended to more companies and additional indicators are added as reporting matures. Examples of best practice drawn from the companies’ own reports include food waste reduction, sustainability-linked finance, eco-design, responsible sourcing and programmes to include marginalised job seekers.

Audrey Leroy, Partner at BDO, ESG Specialist and Chair of the Mission Committee, said: “The CSR Retail Index was designed to go beyond mere compliance. Our ambition is to transform ESG commitments into tangible, comparable, and actionable data—a direct response to the increasing demands for transparency from investors, industry players, and consumers. This study also provides an opportunity to share observed best practices and contribute to improving the sustainable performance of the companies involved.”

Rémy Gerin, Executive Director of ESSEC’s Fast Moving Consumer Goods Chair, stressed the potential for the tool to act as a catalyst for change. “Retailers play a pivotal role in the environmental and social transition”, he added. “By highlighting the gap between words and actions and by showcasing exemplary initiatives, the CSR Retail Index® can become a catalyst for transformation across the entire sector.”

Main image: SHOX Art/Pexels