Marks & Spencer tops FTSE 100 carbon reporting ranking

Examining the extent and depth of FTSE 100 companies’ carbon measurement and reporting practices, the top 10 performers were Marks and Spencer, BT Group, National Grid, Aviva, Unilever, Reed Elsevier, TUI Travel, Sainsbury’s, BSkyB, British Land, Barclays, Whitbread and HSBC.

The research, undertaken by UK-based carbon management firm Carbon Clear, found that although many businesses continue to take carbon management seriously, just 52 companies in the FTSE100 include their carbon footprint in their annual report.

This is particularly significant in light of regulations which came into effect yesterday requiring around 1000 UK listed companies to include global greenhouse gas emissions in their annual report.

Carbon Clear chief executive Mark Chadwick said: “The fact that a carbon footprint must now be included in the annual reports of publicly listed companies reminds us of the continued importance of a successful carbon programme.

“Companies will not be able to hide poor disclosure performance and we believe that the best practice identified through our research signposts the way to better reporting,” he added.

For the third year in a row, the supermarket sector scored the highest average scores, while the transport and logistics sector scored the lowest average scores. There was also a significant range in scores, from the highest score of 91% to the lowest of just 5%.

Responding to being ranked top of the list for the second year in a row, head of global Plan A delivery at Marks & Spencer, Adam Elman told edie: “Becoming a carbon neutral company was the first step for us on a long journey of carbon reduction.

“We’re tackling not only our own operations, shops, warehouses, lorries etc, but also looking at where we can take carbon out from our suppliers operations and our customer’s use and disposal of our products.

“We’re looking at our whole value chain and it’s not easy but recognition like this helps motivate our employees and are an indication that we’re heading in the right direction,” he added.

In last year’s report, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s ranked amongst the top FTSE 100 companies for reporting and measuring carbon emissions.

Leigh Stringer