2024
Carrefour
Year
Sector
Distribution
ACT assessment methodology
Retail
Performance Score
Carrefour has ambitious decarbonization targets (aligned with 1.5°C) on its significant emissions across all scopes in the medium term (by 2030, validated by SBTi). Actions are listed on all scopes, structured in an action plan whose emission reductions are quantified by 2030. However, scope 3 targets beyond 2030 would be necessary for the company's climate strategy to become more relevant.
Carrefour is implementing actions that concern all its products sold (goods and fuel). In addition to the traditional decarbonisation levers of the retail sector (decarbonisation of suppliers), more relevant actions such as the promotion of plant-based alternatives (based on a turnover target in Europe) or the promotion of regenerative agriculture (the impact of which is currently being assessed via modelling work) are also being put in place. However, these actions are not associated with a clear timetable and resources, nor with a geographical scope, even though the activity is spread over several major areas (46% of turnover in France, 27% for the rest of Europe, and 27% for Latin America). In addition, no action to limit animal or high-carbon products is planned by the company, which is a priority lever in mass distribution.
Regarding the commitment of its value chain, Carrefour has formalized a relevant supplier strategy, committing the 100 largest suppliers to commit to a 1.5°C strategy by 2026 or face delisting. Customer engagement is also integrated into the company's strategy, through awareness-raising and incentive actions for low-carbon products. However, the share of products covered by these incentives is not explained.
Carrefour is implementing actions that concern all its products sold (goods and fuel). In addition to the traditional decarbonisation levers of the retail sector (decarbonisation of suppliers), more relevant actions such as the promotion of plant-based alternatives (based on a turnover target in Europe) or the promotion of regenerative agriculture (the impact of which is currently being assessed via modelling work) are also being put in place. However, these actions are not associated with a clear timetable and resources, nor with a geographical scope, even though the activity is spread over several major areas (46% of turnover in France, 27% for the rest of Europe, and 27% for Latin America). In addition, no action to limit animal or high-carbon products is planned by the company, which is a priority lever in mass distribution.
Regarding the commitment of its value chain, Carrefour has formalized a relevant supplier strategy, committing the 100 largest suppliers to commit to a 1.5°C strategy by 2026 or face delisting. Customer engagement is also integrated into the company's strategy, through awareness-raising and incentive actions for low-carbon products. However, the share of products covered by these incentives is not explained.
Narrative Score
Business model and strategy: If the 2030 emissions reduction target is ambitious, additional actions are needed to achieve it. Some actions are nevertheless relevant and aim to reposition the company at the level of its customers by encouraging the purchase of low-carbon products, and its suppliers. However, the absence of a target or action beyond 2030 raises questions about Carrefour's long-term alignment with a low-carbon economy.
Coherence and credibility: Carrefour explains that certain actions are missing to achieve the objectives announced for 2030 (17MtCO2e additional, out of 62MtCO2e of reduction needed in total between 2024 and 2030). Also, although some objectives are well on their way to being achieved (on scopes 1 &2, on refrigerants, use of products sold), other important items are taking the opposite path (goods and services purchased, downstream transport), these increases not being commented on or explained, as are the impacts of these increases on the action plan.
Data quality: Emissions and other data reported appear to be reliable, accurate, complete. It is not explained whether the GHG assessment has been validated by an independent third party, increasing the risk of methodological errors. However, the data appear to be of good quality and consistent. The company's reduction targets have been validated by SBTi.
Reputation: In 2021, Carrefour announced that it would achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, without making it clear that this commitment only covered scopes 1 and 2. In 2023 and 2025, Carrefour was given formal notice by NGOs over its failure to comply with the duty of vigilance in the tuna sector - which is not directly linked to the low-carbon transition, but linked to the company's ecological transition commitments. In 2022, the company was put on notice, alongside eight other agri-food and retail companies, by a group of NGOs, on the ubiquitous use of plastic and their failure to comply with the duty of vigilance. Carrefour has withdrawn its commitment to carbon neutrality from SBTi. Carrefour has not made ambitious enough changes to its practices since the formal notice on the tuna sector in 2023. No response to the formal notice concerning plastic
Risks: The company is dependent on fossil fuels in a significant and indirect way, through all the emissions necessary for the production of agri-food products, their transport, and the sale of fuel to customers. The company is implementing actions on food products as well as on the use of products sold (fuel), which suggest that it is transitioning in these activities. However, upstream transport is not one of the items for which a scope 3 objective has been defined, and the company does not seem to be taking action on these emissions. Carrefour has carried out an analysis of the risks and opportunities related to climate change: regulatory, market and physical risks for stores.
Coherence and credibility: Carrefour explains that certain actions are missing to achieve the objectives announced for 2030 (17MtCO2e additional, out of 62MtCO2e of reduction needed in total between 2024 and 2030). Also, although some objectives are well on their way to being achieved (on scopes 1 &2, on refrigerants, use of products sold), other important items are taking the opposite path (goods and services purchased, downstream transport), these increases not being commented on or explained, as are the impacts of these increases on the action plan.
Data quality: Emissions and other data reported appear to be reliable, accurate, complete. It is not explained whether the GHG assessment has been validated by an independent third party, increasing the risk of methodological errors. However, the data appear to be of good quality and consistent. The company's reduction targets have been validated by SBTi.
Reputation: In 2021, Carrefour announced that it would achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, without making it clear that this commitment only covered scopes 1 and 2. In 2023 and 2025, Carrefour was given formal notice by NGOs over its failure to comply with the duty of vigilance in the tuna sector - which is not directly linked to the low-carbon transition, but linked to the company's ecological transition commitments. In 2022, the company was put on notice, alongside eight other agri-food and retail companies, by a group of NGOs, on the ubiquitous use of plastic and their failure to comply with the duty of vigilance. Carrefour has withdrawn its commitment to carbon neutrality from SBTi. Carrefour has not made ambitious enough changes to its practices since the formal notice on the tuna sector in 2023. No response to the formal notice concerning plastic
Risks: The company is dependent on fossil fuels in a significant and indirect way, through all the emissions necessary for the production of agri-food products, their transport, and the sale of fuel to customers. The company is implementing actions on food products as well as on the use of products sold (fuel), which suggest that it is transitioning in these activities. However, upstream transport is not one of the items for which a scope 3 objective has been defined, and the company does not seem to be taking action on these emissions. Carrefour has carried out an analysis of the risks and opportunities related to climate change: regulatory, market and physical risks for stores.
Trend score
The company's 2030 scope 3 target is ambitious and validated by SBTi. The company has established a quantified transition plan for 2030, across all its scopes, with several actions already in place. Some actions aim to reposition the company, at the level of its customers by encouraging the purchase of low-carbon products (plant-based products, use of reusable containers and deposit system, proposals for fuels for non-combustion vehicles), and its suppliers (decarbonization of suppliers, regenerative agriculture). However, the company's objectives and action plan only cover the short and medium term (2030, excluding scopes 1 and 2 for which a target exists for 2040).
Carrefour thus has several assets to achieve its low-carbon transition. However, the company will have to ensure that it adapts its transition plan if the actions put in place do not decarbonize the activity as much as expected – particularly in terms of goods and services purchased.
Carrefour thus has several assets to achieve its low-carbon transition. However, the company will have to ensure that it adapts its transition plan if the actions put in place do not decarbonize the activity as much as expected – particularly in terms of goods and services purchased.
Source
ACT Eval 2
Evaluator
CITEPA
GLOBAL SCORE
Performance score (/100)
56
Disclosure score (/100)
99
ℹ️
Narrative Score (A > E)
B
Trend Score (- = +)
+
Scores by module
#1 : best score in the sample
N/A% = module not applicable to the sectoral methodology
Target Score : 67%
Material Investment Score : 34%
Intangible Investment Score : N/A%
Sold Product Performance Score : 51%
Management Score : 52%
Supplier Engagement Score : 79%
Client Engagement Score : 71%
Policy Engagement Score : 25%
Business Model Score : 50%
Indicator weight by module