// M&S and Tesco come in at 2nd & 4th on the FTSE 100 Sustainability leaderboard and report
// The report is published by international climate and sustainability consultancy firm EcoAct
// Retail industry showed strong performance overall with Burberry jumping up 42 places
Marks & Spencer and Tesco have beaten other retailers to take top rankings in a leading climate change sustainability leaderboard.
The two major retailers came second and fourth respectively FTSE 100 Sustainability leaderboard and report, compiled by international climate and sustainability consultancy firm EcoAct.
The report, now in its 9th year, ranks FTSE 100 companies on climate-related sustainability reporting.
Within the overall rankings of the entire FTSE 100, retailers Kingfisher, Burberry, Sainsbury, Next and Morrisons also featured in the top 50 per cent.
Burberry in particular was commended for the biggest improvement in scoring, moving up 42 places since last year to 23rd position.
EcoAct said the number of consumer-focused companies, including retailers, in the top 20 indicated increased climate awareness among the general public and the mounting demand for action.
Pressure from the investor community is also a driver for companies to act.
However, overall the report had a clear message that UK businesses were not going far enough in implementing critical steps to limit carbon emissions and greenhouse gas.
EcoAct’s report discloses that while 81 per cent of FTSE 100 companies have some sort of emissions reduction target, 85 per cent currently do not have a sufficient emissions reduction strategy in place to limit global warming to safe levels.
The report also reveals that only eight per cent of FTSE 100 companies have attained carbon neutrality, with only a further 10 per cent making the commitment to do so.
However, 78 per cent of general retailers and supermarkets have set or committed to set a science-based emissions reduction target.
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