Carrefour and Jerónimo Martins share the top spot in the 2026 CSR Retail Index, each scoring 13.3 out of 20, according to the report produced by ESSEC Business School’s Consumer Goods Chair and consulting firm BDO.
The second edition assesses the sustainability performance of 12 European retailers using 16 quantitative ESG indicators drawn from the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The indicators cover areas including Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse-gas emissions, waste, employee turnover, disability representation, gender pay gaps and sustainability-linked remuneration. Environmental performance accounts for 42% of the score, social factors for 35% and governance for 23%.
Carrefour retained its leading position, improving its score by 0.5 points, with governance identified as a particular strength. Jerónimo Martins climbed two places ending up in a tie with Carrefour, gaining 0.8 points through more balanced progress across environmental, social and governance measures.
Colruyt entered the index in third place, while Auchan (7th) recorded the largest improvement, gaining 1.9 points. Its progress was linked to lower Scope 3 emissions, a reduction in its gender pay gap from 18% to 7%, and sustainability targets being tied to 20% of annual incentives.
At the other end of the scale, Sonae fell from fourth to ninth after a 1.2-point decline in environmental performance. By individual pillars, Carrefour led governance, Jerónimo Martins social performance, and Ahold Delhaize environmental performance.
The companies assessed in the 2026 CSR Retail Index are retailers subject to the EU reporting obligation, as well as retailers who anticipate the obligation by publishing an sustainability report compliant with the ESRS.