Mercadona

No leading practices were identified for the company in the governance and strategy measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the environment measurement area.

No leading practices were found for the company in the nutrition measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the social inclusion measurement area.

Sustainable development strategy
As part of its sustainability strategy, Mercadona has identified objectives and commitments linked to the Sustainable Development Goals that cover topics related to nutrition, social inclusion and the environment. In addition, the company discloses its process for identifying and prioritising topics on which it has the most impact, which includes a materiality assessment. Mercadona has an opportunity to also include targets in its sustainability strategy.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
Mercadona’s management committee is responsible for the implementation of its sustainable development strategy. In addition, the board supervises and approves all externally reported information on sustainability. Mercadona has an opportunity to provide more information about the board sustainability-related responsibilities, as well as to link remuneration for the board of directors or executives to sustainability performance.

Stakeholder engagement
Mercadona does not disclose stakeholder engagement activities, including how it selects the stakeholders, nor an overview of the topics discussed or their outcomes.

Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions
While the company reports on reductions in direct emissions from a variety of sources, such as leaks from refrigerant gas and freight transport, it’s unclear that this encompasses the company’s full scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. The company has an opportunity to strengthen its commitment by setting targets and reporting against them.

Protein diversification
Mercadona demonstrates that it is diversifying its protein portfolio through incorporating the brand Heura, which develops plant-based proteins. However, it has an opportunity to strengthen its commitment by setting targets to increase the production and consumption of alternative proteins.

Food loss and waste
Mercadona discloses evidence of activities to address food loss and waste in its own operations, such as monitoring sales in real-time to optimise the ordering process and exhausting fresh products. However, it has an opportunity to disclose quantitative information to demonstrate reductions in food loss and waste volumes, as well as to set targets to reduce food loss and waste across its own operations and supply chain and report against these targets.

Plastic use and packaging waste
Mercadona has set a 2025 target to reduce plastic waste by 25% and make all plastic packaging recyclable. In addition, the company has put measures in place to reduce plastic use through activities such as replacing plastic bags with reusable or compostable bags and eliminating single-use disposable items. The company has an opportunity to strengthen its commitment by providing quantitative reporting against its targets.

Animal welfare
Mercadona has a policy that addresses animal welfare issues in its supply chain but does not disclose that it addresses specific animal welfare issues of its relevant key species.

Availability of healthy foods
While the company discloses that it introduces reformulated products with reduced fat, added sugars and salt, Mercadona does not provide quantitative evidence of improving the nutritional quality of its foods.

Accessibility and affordability of healthy foods
The company does not disclose a commitment and activities to improve the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods for vulnerable groups.

Clear and transparent labelling
While the company reports on improvements in product labelling, it does not disclose a commitment to make nutritional information on all of its products.

Responsible marketing
While Mercadona reports that it had no instances of non-compliance with regulations or voluntary codes concerning marketing communications, it does not disclose a responsible marketing policy nor guidelines specific to marketing to children.

Food safety
While the company discloses with the Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene, the company has an opportunity to strengthen its disclosure on food safety. This can be achieved by disclosing the percentages of its own operations that are certified to a food safety scheme and certification programme recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative.

Farmer and fisher productivity and resilience
Mercadona has a commitment to support the productivity and resilience of farmers and fishers. While the company discloses examples of the products it buys from small farmers and fishers, it has an opportunity to disclose evidence of activities to support their productivity, resilience and access to markets.

Child labour
While the company commits to prohibiting child labour in its own operations and requires its suppliers to adhere to the same standard, it has an opportunity to disclose a policy requiring its suppliers to have an age-verification system in place.

Forced labour
While the company commits to prohibiting forced labour in its own operations and supply chain, it has an opportunity to disclose a requirement that prohibits its suppliers from retaining workers’ personal documents and restricting workers’ freedom of movement.

Living wage
Mercadona does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its suppliers to do the same. Neither has it set targets to do so in the future.

Land rights
The company does not commit to recognising and respecting the legitimate tenure rights related to the ownership and use of land of local communities.

Mercadona provides grievance mechanisms for workers and third parties. While the company addresses human rights in its annual report, no policy commitment to respect the human rights of its workers was found. Moreover, the company does not commit to uphold the right to collective bargaining in its operations and supply chain. No evidence of a human rights due diligence process was found and the Mercadona does not disclose how it engages with affected and potentially affected stakeholders.

Mercadona commits to respecting the health and safety of its workers and places health and safety expectations on its business relationships and monitors their performance, but does not disclose fatalities and the main types of injuries in the workplace. 100% of Mercadona’s workforce is covered by a labour agreement, but the company does not disclose how it supports collective bargaining in its supply chain. While the company commits to gender equality, it has not set a relevant target and no reporting on its pay gap was found. The company prohibits excessive working hours and overtime in its operations and supply chain. However, no information on overtime compensation and no commitment to paying a living wage were found.

Mercadona commits to protect personal data and has a policy on its use. The company also discloses policies prohibiting bribery and corruption in its operations and supply chain, but does not disclose how it identifies bribery and corruption risks and impacts. Moreover, while company discloses its corporate income tax payment on a country-by-country basis, no global tax strategy was found in the public domain. Lastly, Mercadona does not disclose its approach to lobbying and political engagement nor report on lobbying expenditures.