M&S aims to be most sustainable store
M&S hopes to be the first major retailer to actively tackle the living wage debate
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched a programme to become the world's most sustainable retailer by 2015.
The high street favourite has announced 80 major new commitments under its Plan A scheme, which aims to combat climate change, reduce waste, use sustainable raw materials, trade ethically, and encourage customers to lead healthier lifestyles.
Among the new commitments is a promise for all 2.7 billion M&S products to have at least one sustainable quality, encouraging suppliers, customers and employees to live "greener" lifestyles.
M&S also hopes to be the first major retailer to actively tackle the living wage debate by determining and agreeing a fair wage for workers in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India which must be implemented by clothing suppliers.
Two hundred Plan A factories will also be created with either ethical or environmental features, or both, while the 10,000 farmers who produce fresh foods for M&S will be encouraged to join a sustainable agriculture programme.
And the company is offering free home insulation and energy monitoring to all of its eligible employees, as well as giving them one paid day off a year to work in their local communities.
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Earlier this month the store had announced plans to fund kerbside collection for recyclable material, which will be used to make food packaging for its stores.
Sir Stuart Rose, chair of M&S, said the company believed sustainability was "a key ingredient of business success" and that Plan A will continue to make M&S more efficient, in addition to developing new markets and building customer loyalty.
"It's therefore not just the right thing to do morally but also makes strong commercial sense," he added.
