In the scope of our environmental audits, we assess requirements related to environmental certification and management related to topics such as energy, water, packaging, effluents, waste, emissions and hazardous substances. The environmental performance of our perishables, Private Brand and service providers is assessed both at the time of selection and during the business relationship. For selection audits, environmental criteria are given the same weight as the food safety and quality audit items, reinforcing the relevance of environmental aspects at the time of supplier approval. In 2024, 179 new suppliers were assessed and approved after meeting both criteria.
Regular environmental audits of our perishables and Private Brand suppliers are carried out by an external entity. For service providers, audits are conducted by internal auditors. In 2024, and for the first time, perishables and Private Brand suppliers were assessed according to a risk scale that considers the suppliers’ environmental audit history and the environmental risk of the country of supply. In the case of service providers, priority is given to those whose activities may have higher environmental impacts1.
Around 100 requirements are assessed and supplier performance2 is categorised in four levels: Excellent, Good, Satisfactory and Inadequate. The volume of purchases made by our Companies (more than one million euros per year) and the significance of the environmental impact of suppliers’ activities are among the criteria to select the suppliers and service providers that must undergo these audits.
In 2024, 37 perishables and Private Brand suppliers were audited, including re-audits3. Of the suppliers audited, 11 were ISO 14001 certified, equivalent to an “Excellent” rating. We also audited 57 service providers (20 in Portugal, 25 in Poland and 12 in Colombia).
Performance of environmental audits of perishables, Private Brand and exclusive brand suppliers
Performance of environmental audits of service providers
The reduction in the number of audits conducted in 2024 is related to the selection process of a third-party entity to conduct these external audits. Nonetheless, in 2025 and 2026 audits are scheduled to ensure that the Group meets its three-year targets. For more information on these targets, refer to “Commitments 2024-2026”.
Suppliers and service providers with a score of “Inadequate” are given a corrective action plan that requires a response within a maximum of six months. The status of implementation is measured in a second audit, carried out the following year. We reserve the right to suspend cooperation in cases where the corrective action plan is not complied with. Improvement plans are presented in cases where there are nonconformities.
1 Production and supply of equipment, transportation, refrigeration and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), waste management operators, installation and maintenance of treatment systems, and printing shops.
2 Assessment scores are determined as follows: (i) Excellent: compliance with 100% of the critical requirements and compliance with more than 94% of the Satisfactory level requirements, plus a compliance of between 71% and 85% with the Good level requirements and at least 70% of the Excellent level requirements, or compliance with 100% of the critical requirements and the existence of a certified environmental management system; (ii) Good: compliance with 100% of the critical requirements and compliance with between 85% and 94% of the Satisfactory level requirements, plus compliance with 70% of the Good level requirements; (iii) Satisfactory: compliance with 100% of the critical requirements and compliance with between 70% and 84% of the Satisfactory level requirements and; (iv) Inadequate: non-compliance with one or more critical requirements and/or compliance with less than 70% of the Satisfactory level requirements.
3 Re-audits are new audits of suppliers that obtained a score of ‘Inadequate’ in the first audit. They serve to assess the extent to which the improvement plan has been implemented.