M&S makes 2012 carbon neutrality pledge

gallery

Marks and Spencer (M&S) is investing £200 million in an eco plan that will touch every area of the company, including technology wherever possible, as it moves towards becoming carbon neutral by 2012.

The retail giant launched the initiative, dubbed Plan A, earlier this week, vowing to send no more waste to landfill sites, ramp up its focus on sustainable sourcing, and promote ethical trading and healthier lifestyles for employees and customers.

The company's carbon neutrality pledge will see it meet the targets set by the Stern Review of reducing CO2 emissions by 80 per cent, equivalent to taking 100,000 cards off the road each year.

Carbon offsetting will only be used as a last resort, in the absence of the availability of short to medium term green technology, according to M&S. If offsetting is used, the company says it will allocate the costs involved to specific business units to encourage the reduction of CO2 emissions.

It will also recycle all waste, where legally allowed, generated by its store remodel and construction programme, in addition to powering its stores with 'green' renewable energy in a bid to increase energy efficiency levels by 25 per cent.

The company's eco-friendly stance is timely given that the final countdown for the Waste and Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive officially kicked off earlier this month, meaning that manufacturers are now accountable for reducing the amount of WEEE waste headed for land fill sites by reusing and recycling where possible and footing the associated bills.

"Every business and individual needs to do their bit to tackle the enormous challenges of climate change and waste," said M&S chief executive Stuart Rose.

"While M&S will continue to sell great quality, stylish and innovative products, our customers, employees and shareholders now expect us to take bold steps and do business differently and responsibly. We believe a responsible business can be a profitable business. We are calling this "Plan A" because there is no 'plan B'."

He added: "M&S will change beyond recognition the way it operates over the next five years... This is a deliberately ambitious and, in some areas, difficult plan. We don't have all the answers but we are determined to work with our suppliers, partners and government to make this happen. Doing anything less is not an option."

The retailer's eco plan has been welcomed by environmental and sustainable development supporters like the Forum for the Future, Greenpeace and

WWF UK.

"This plan sets a new benchmark in the way businesses should be tackling critical sustainability challenges like waste, fair trade and climate change," said Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future.

"It raises the bar for everyone else - not just retailers, but businesses in every sector. We all know that even at the end of these 5 years there will still be a huge amount for M&S to do but we warmly welcome the scale of the ambition of this plan in particular the commitment to include customers and suppliers."

Email to a friend

Print this page