Annual Report 2024

Environment

2024-2026 commitments – Environment

ESRS topic

 

Materiality

 

Commitment

 

Progress

Climate Change
[ESRS E1-4]

 

 

Reduce the Group’s scopes 1 and 2 emissions, in absolute terms, by at least 10% by 2026, compared to 2021. This commitment is aligned with the science-based target for the near-term submitted by Jerónimo Martins to the Science Based Targets initiative.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the reduction in the Group’s scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, in absolute terms, was 19%, compared to 2021.

Climate Change
[ESRS E1-4]

 

 

Reduce carbon emissions resulting from transporting goods to stores by 5% (in tonnes of CO2e per pallet transported) by 2026, compared to 2021.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the reduction in carbon emissions resulting from the transport of goods to stores (in tonnes of CO2e per pallet transported) was 6.1%, compared to 2021.

Climate Change
[ESRS E1-4]

 

 

Engage, in the 2024-2026 period, with at least five of the top 100 suppliers in terms of purchased goods in each company, to collaborate on the definition of strategies for the reduction of scope 3 emissions.

 

In progress.
In 2024, 20 of Biedronka, Pingo Doce and Recheio’s main suppliers were contacted as part of our scope 3 emissions reduction plan. By 2026, we will also engage our main suppliers from Ara, Hebe and JMA.

Climate Change
[ESRS E1-4]

 

 

Reduce energy consumption by 10% (per thousand euros of sales) by 2026, compared to 2021.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the reduction in energy consumption, per thousand euros of sales, was 30%, compared to 2021.

Pollution
[ESRS E2-3]

 

 

Ensure that the number of locations with environmental certification is at least 70% of the total number of distribution centres and industrial/similar units*.

 

In progress.
In 2024, 73% of distribution centres and industrial units had ISO 14001 environmental certification. In Poland, certification according to the international standard ISO 14001 has been renewed for 17 distribution centres (DCs) and the Biedronka soup factory. In Portugal, fresh dough factory and Terra Alegre maintained ISO 14001 certification, as well as the DCs (Azambuja, Algoz, Vila do Conde, Alfena, Vila Nova da Rainha and Alcochete) and Pingo Doce’s central kitchens (Odivelas and Aveiro). In Colombia, Ara has completed the ISO 14001 certification process for the Gachanchipá and Pereira distribution centres.

 

 

 

 

* including fresh dough factory, central kitchens, soup factory, Terra Alegre dairy factory and packing units.

 

Water and marine resources
[ESRS E3-4]

 

 

Reduce water withdrawal in distribution activities by 10% (per thousand euros of sales), by 2026, compared to 2021.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the reduction in the volume of water withdrawal in distribution activities, per thousand euros of sales, was 59%, compared to 2021.

Water and marine resources
[ESRS E3-4]

 

 

Define and implement a mitigation and adaptation plan to improve the efficiency of water use and to manage its scarcity during low precipitation periods in JMA units, publicly disclosing its progress.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the JMA Water Management Plan was developed, which defines goals and a set of actions until 2030 for the agri-food business, which aim to prioritise monitoring and limit specific water consumption in the different JMA activities.

Biodiversity and ecosystems
[ESRS E4-4]

 

 

In Colombia, Poland and Portugal support and/or implement, in the 2024-2026 period, at least two nature conservation and biodiversity protection projects, aligned with the Kunmig-Montreal Global Diversity Framework, and disclose its results annually.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the Group supported 11 nature conservation projects (7 in Portugal, 2 in Colombia and 2 in Poland).

Biodiversity and ecosystems
[ESRS E4-4]

 

 

Contribute to the objectives of the Forest Positive Coalition of Action of The Consumer Goods Forum. The following objectives have been set for our Private Brand and perishable products:

  • DCF: By 2025, ensure that palm oil, soy, paper and wood and beef in our Private Brand and perishable products are not associated with either deforestation or conversion of ecosystems (DCF – Deforestation and Conversion Free).
  • Palm oil:
    • Continue to ensure that 100% of palm oil in Portugal and Poland is RSPO certified and progressively extend this commitment to palm oil derivatives.
    • In Colombia, ensure compliance with the Colombian government’s “Acuerdo de Voluntades para la Deforestación Cero en la Cadena de Palma en Colombia” (Voluntary Agreement for Zero Deforestation in the Colombian Palm Oil Chain), guaranteeing that by 2026, the palm oil of Colombian origin used in Private Brands and perishable products is traceable to the farm where it was produced and is not associated with deforestation, and that 100% of palm oil of non-Colombian origin used in Private Brands and perishable products is certified by the RSPO.
  • Soy: By 2025, ensure that 100% of direct and indirect soy is traceable at least to the country of origin and that whenever it comes from an origin where the risk is not negligible, the soy is traced back to the municipality of origin and/or has sustainability certification (e.g., RTRS or Proterra).
  • Paper and timber: Working with suppliers of Private Brand products and perishables to ensure that 95% of the virgin fibres used in our products and 80% of the virgin fibres used in our packaging are certified (FSC® or PEFC) by 2026.
  • Beef: Ensure that 100% of the beef in our Private Brand and perishable products is traceable at least to the country of origin, and that traceability to the farm of origin is guaranteed for all beef sourced from non-negligible risk countries.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the Group had the following performance in its Private Brands and perishables:

  • DCF – Deforestation and Conversion Free: the DCF calculation for palm oil, soy, paper and timber and beef in our Private Brand and perishable products is being finalised. We will report on our progress in the second half of 2025, in the 5th Progress Report ‘Contributing to a forest positive future’.
  • Palm oil: the Companies in Portugal and Poland maintained RSPO certification for 100% of the palm oil used. In Colombia, Ara has traced the origin of 95% of the palm oil back to the area where it was produced. The palm oil in our products comes from three of the four production areas in the country and from 25 (out of 70) processing plants in operation in Colombia. Only 0.75% of deforestation detected by public bodies in 2021 was associated with palm oil. At Ara, more than 75% of the palm oil used in Private Brand and perishables was produced in Colombia and 66% was RSPO certified. By 2024, 59% of the palm oil in Ara’s Private Brands and perishables that did not come from Colombia was RSPO certified.
  • Soy: We were able to trace the origin, at least up to the country of production, of 95% of the total soya in our supply chains (up 2 p.p. compared to 2023). Around 64% of the total soy from known origins comes from countries with risk of deforestation (-6 p.p. compared to 2023) of which 17% had sustainability certification (e.g. RTRS).
  • Paper and timber: 90% of the virgin fibres used in our Private Brand and perishables products and packaging had sustainability certification (FSC® or PEFC).
  • Beef: it was possible to map all the beef used in our Private Brands and perishables to at least the country of origin. Based on this work, it was possible to confirm that only 0.4% of the total originated from Brazil. Despite the reduced exposure to this ingredient, we maintain our participation in the beef working group under the CGF’s Forest Positive Coalition of Action.

Biodiversity and ecosystems
[ESRS E4-4]

 

 

By 2026, analyse the sustainability status of fish stocks for at least 80% of fish sales (in kg), from Private Brand and perishable products, and publicly disclose progress.

 

In progress.
In 2024, we analysed more than 80% of sales of Private Brand and perishable fish (in kg) at Ara, Biedronka, Pingo Doce and Recheio. This analysis allowed us to identify the ten most representative fishing areas and to conclude that: 51% of the wild fish from these areas has no conservation risk (50% classified as Least Concern and 1% as Near Threatened) and 33% is classified as the lowest conservation risk level (Vulnerable). Around 17% of wild fish have not been assessed or have insufficient data on their conservation status.

Biodiversity and ecosystems
[ESRS E4-4]

 

 

By 2026, ensure that 100% of wild-caught tuna in our Private Brand and perishable products is traceable to the vessel.

 

In progress.
By 2024, we were able to track 42% of our consumption of Private Brand and perishable tuna down to the vessel level. We will continue our efforts to ensure that this goal is met.

Biodiversity and ecosystems
[ESRS E4-4]

 

 

Eliminate, by 2025, the sale of Private Brand fresh eggs from caged hens.

 

In progress.
In 2024, in the Group, 98% of fresh Private Brand eggs sold come from non-caged hens. Biedronka, which also extended the goal to supplier brands, reached the 100% target at the end of 2022, just as Pingo Doce had already done in August 2019. Ara does not have fresh Private Brand eggs in its assortment.

Biodiversity and ecosystems
[ESRS E4-4]

 

 

By 2026, in Portugal and Poland, ensure that at least 90% of eggs used as an ingredient in our Private Brand products are from cage-free hens.

 

In progress.
At Biedronka, since 2022, eggs from non-caged hens have been used in 100% of the Private Brand assortment that contains egg as an ingredient. Pingo Doce and Recheio continued to make progress and ended 2024 with 73% (+12 p.p. compared to 2023) and 41% (+3 p.p. compared to 2023), respectively. Additionally, at Ara it was possible to monitor, for the first time, Private Brand products that use eggs from non-caged hens as an ingredient, and it was found that 68% of the assortment used cage-free eggs.

Resource use and circular economy
[ESRS E5-3]

 

 

Ensure that at least 25% of Private Brand products’ packaging is included in the Ecodesign project by 2026, considering the 2023 assortment.

 

Accomplished.
In 2024, 454 eco-design projects for Private Brand product packaging were completed. The accumulated value, since 2011, corresponds to 2,347 packages developed according to ecodesign strategies, which corresponds to 25.7% of the 2023 assortment.

Resource use and circular economy
[ESRS E5-3]

 

 

Reduce by 10%, by 2025, the specific consumption of plastic measured in tonnes of plastic packaging per million euros of turnover, compared to 2018.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the reduction in specific plastic consumption (t/million euros of sales) was 42%, compared to 2018.

Resource use and circular economy
[ESRS E5-3]

 

 

Increase the content of recycled plastic incorporated in plastic packaging under our responsibility (Private Brand, service packaging, carrier bags and palletizing film) to 25% by 2025.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the recycled plastic content was 11.6% in plastic packaging, 13.4 p.p. below the target for 2025.

Resource use and circular economy
[ESRS E5-3]

 

 

Ensure an annual waste recovery rate of at least 85% of the volume of waste generated by 2026.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the waste recovery rate stood at 84.8%, i.e., 0.2 p.p. below the target set for the 2024-2026 triennium.

Resource use and circular economy
[ESRS E5-3]

 

 

Limit annual food waste to 2.5% of total food sales (in tonnes), in the 2024-2026 period.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the Group’s food waste stood at 1.8% of total sales volume (in tonnes) of foodstuffs.

Resource use and circular economy
[ESRS E5-3]

 

 

Increase by 10% the amount of rescued food in own operations and in the supply-chain, namely through food donations, sales with a discount price of food products reaching the expiry date, recovery of non-graded food from farmers and leftovers from own operations and recovery of wasted food to animal feed and bio processing, by 2026, compared to 2023.

 

In progress.
In 2024, the increase in the amount of food recovered in own operations and in the supply chain stood at 21%, 11 p.p. more than the target set for the 2024-2026 triennium.

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