MoreThanWaste.com - Major retailer launches £200m 'eco-plan' called "Plan A" (15/01/2007)

Marks & Spencer announced the initiation of "Plan A", a business-wide £200m "eco-plan" which will have an impact on every part of M&S' operations over the next five years. By 2012 the company intends to be carbon neutral and to only use off-setting tree planting as a last resort.

The 100-point Plan A includes commitments in five areas:

1. CLIMATE CHANGE - making operations in UK and Republic of Ireland carbon neutral.

Marks intend to minimise energy use, maximise the use of renewables and use offsetting as a last resort. This is said to be equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road each year and will mean the company meets the challenge set by the Stern Review of reducing CO2 emissions by 80%, nearly 40 years ahead of target. As a significant amount of emissions come from suppliers and customers making and using products, M&S also intends to mobilise them to reduce their carbon footprint.

The company's commitment includes:

Reducing the amount of energy used to make the company 25% more energy efficient and powering stores with 'green' renewable energy. This will include trialling the use of 'anaerobic digestion' - to create renewable energy generated by waste from food halls, farms and factories.
Committing to buy as much food from the UK and Ireland as possible, double regional food sourcing within 12 months and grow existing local supply networks. In addition, the company will minimise the amount of food air freighted as well as labelling the food imported by air as 'flown'.
Initiating 5 new research and development projects with UK growers to develop production techniques and varieties to reduce the amount of food imported.
Only using carbon offsetting as a last resort, where there is no short to medium term prospect of green technology being developed. Where using offsetting, M&S will allocate the cost of doing so to individual business units, as a commercial incentive to minimise CO2 emissions.
Opening a model 'green' factory with a supplier, as well as model 'green' stores in Pollok, Bournemouth and Liverpool and a Simply Food 'green' store at Galashiels.
Using 50% bio-diesel in all company lorries .
Working with suppliers through the M&S Supplier Exchange to share best practice and to mobilise suppliers to reduce their carbon emissions.
Helping customers reduce energy use in their homes by developing low carbon products and services and running a Carbon Challenge with the Women's Institute and supporting the Climate Group's "We are in this together" Campaign.

2. LANDFILL - Zero waste to landfill by 2012

The company intends to stop sending waste to landfill from its stores, offices and warehouses, reduce its use of packaging and carrier bags, and finding new ways to recycle and reuse waste materials.

The commitment includes:

Reducing use of packaging by 25%
Stopping sending food waste to landfill and using it to generate green energy via anaerobic digestion
Recycling all waste from stores remodelling and construction programme and stopping sending it to landfill
Using packaging materials from sustainable or recycled sources, for example cardboard, metal, glass and plastic
Restricting the range of materials used in packaging to ones which are easy to recycle or compost. This will include focusing on using four types of plastic these being corn starch derived plastic PLA, PP, PET and PE.
Printing simple symbols on all packaging, to make it easy for customers to recycle or compost waste
Reducing use of carrier bags by 33% and making all plastic bags from recycled plastic
Trialling 'closed loop' recycling in six store cafes, where used packaging can be recycled into M&S product packaging. This scheme will be rolled out across over 450 Café Revives and staff restaurants
Ensuring that, within 5 years, no M&S clothing goes to landfill by finding alternatives to disposal such as reusing, composting and recycling.

3. RAW MATERIALS - sustainable sources

Ensuring that key raw materials come from the most sustainable source possible, in order to protect the environment and the world's natural resources.

The company's commitment includes:

Using only wood which is recycled or certified as coming from a sustainable source by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or equivalent standard where FSC wood is not available. This will include wood used in: furniture, books, cards, packaging, catalogues, kitchen/toilet roll, printer/photocopier paper and marketing materials. This adds to the 80 million sandwich packs sold each year made from cardboard from FSC certified sources and the A grade rating the company received from Greenpeace for its garden furniture in 2006.
Converting all fresh turkey, geese, duck and pork to Free Range, building on the company's position of only using Free Range shell eggs and eggs used as an ingredient.
Selling only fish which is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or another independently certified source, adding to the steps M&S have already taken and building on its position as Greenpeace's no.1 responsible fish retailer.
Using recycled plastic (e.g. bottles) not oil, to make polyester for clothing and home products.
Tripling sales of organic food and launching organic cotton, linen and wool.
Ensuring produce and livestock farmers meet an independent environmental standard such as LEAF or FWAG.
Reducing the water use in stores, offices and distribution centres by 20% and working with suppliers via the Supplier Exchange to reduce water use during the growing, production and manufacture of products.

4. FAIR PARTNER - improving the lives of people

Improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the supply chain and local communities.

The company's commitment includes:

Managing labour standards in the supply chain, building on existing global standards and a robust monitoring programme.
Converting key clothing ranges to 100% Fairtrade cotton, including all £5 women's and men's t-shirts and around 12 million garments in total. Over the next twelve months this will rise to 20 million garments, as the company adds in new ranges of men's shirts, and lingerie vests. This equates to around one third of the world's supply of Fairtrade cotton in 2006.
Building on the success of Fairtrade coffee and tea by offering Fairtrade bananas, jam and bagged sugar and moving into other vulnerable supply chains like those for sugar cane and cocoa used across the company's food range.
Working with farmers to extend the existing industry leading Milk Pledge pricing scheme into new farming sectors.
Launching the M&S Supplier Exchange to support suppliers - by sharing best practice, stimulating innovation and helping them secure funds for investment
Helping disadvantaged groups like the disabled and homeless get into jobs through work placements in the UK (600 adults per year) and overseas (150 adults per year) through the Marks & Start programme

5. HEALTHY EATING - helping customers and employees choose a healthier lifestyle.

The company intends to build on the work it has already done, removing HVOs from all food and removing artificial colours, flavours and all unnecessary preservatives from all fresh prepared food. M&S is also introducing Food Standards Agency Traffic Lights and Guideline Daily Allowance (GDA) product labelling.

The company's commitments include:

Introducing 1,500 Healthy Eating Assistants in stores and extending the same training, developed in collaboration with the British Nutrition Foundation, to all staff in food halls within 3 years
Aiming to increase the amount of "Eat Well" nutritionally balanced food sold from 30% to 50% of food sales
Continuing to lead the sector in reducing the use of salt to meet and exceed 2010 FSA targets having already achieved these targets for ready meals, bread and breakfast cereals
Replacing artificial colours with natural colours in kids' sweets and cakes in 12 months
Helping employees to live healthy lifestyles by launching a M&S Health and Lifestyle Information Intranet, providing them with advice and maintaining free breast screening for female employees over 40.


	Major retailer launches £200m 'eco-plan' called "Plan A" (15/01/2007) Marks & Spencer announced the initiation of "Plan A", a business-wide £200m "eco-plan" which will have an impact on every part of M&S' operations over the next five years. By 2012 the company intends to be carbon neutral and to only use off-setting tree planting as a last resort. The 100-point Plan A includes commitments in five areas: 1. CLIMATE CHANGE - making operations in UK and Republic of Ireland carbon neutral. Marks intend to minimise energy use, maximise the use of renewables and use offsetting as a last resort. This is said to be equivalent to taking 100,000 cars off the road each year and will mean the company meets the challenge set by the Stern Review of reducing CO2 emissions by 80%, nearly 40 years ahead of target. As a significant amount of emissions come from suppliers and customers making and using products, M&S also intends to mobilise them to reduce their carbon footprint. The company's commitment includes: Reducing the amount of energy used to make the company 25% more energy efficient and powering stores with 'green' renewable energy. This will include trialling the use of 'anaerobic digestion' - to create renewable energy generated by waste from food halls, farms and factories. Committing to buy as much food from the UK and Ireland as possible, double regional food sourcing within 12 months and grow existing local supply networks. In addition, the company will minimise the amount of food air freighted as well as labelling the food imported by air as 'flown'. Initiating 5 new research and development projects with UK growers to develop production techniques and varieties to reduce the amount of food imported. Only using carbon offsetting as a last resort, where there is no short to medium term prospect of green technology being developed. Where using offsetting, M&S will allocate the cost of doing so to individual business units, as a commercial incentive to minimise CO2 emissions. Opening a model 'green' factory with a supplier, as well as model 'green' stores in Pollok, Bournemouth and Liverpool and a Simply Food 'green' store at Galashiels. Using 50% bio-diesel in all company lorries . Working with suppliers through the M&S Supplier Exchange to share best practice and to mobilise suppliers to reduce their carbon emissions. Helping customers reduce energy use in their homes by developing low carbon products and services and running a Carbon Challenge with the Women's Institute and supporting the Climate Group's "We are in this together" Campaign. 2. LANDFILL - Zero waste to landfill by 2012 The company intends to stop sending waste to landfill from its stores, offices and warehouses, reduce its use of packaging and carrier bags, and finding new ways to recycle and reuse waste materials. The commitment includes: Reducing use of packaging by 25% Stopping sending food waste to landfill and using it to generate green energy via anaerobic digestion Recycling all waste from stores remodelling and construction programme and stopping sending it to landfill Using packaging materials from sustainable or recycled sources, for example cardboard, metal, glass and plastic Restricting the range of materials used in packaging to ones which are easy to recycle or compost. This will include focusing on using four types of plastic these being corn starch derived plastic PLA, PP, PET and PE. Printing simple symbols on all packaging, to make it easy for customers to recycle or compost waste Reducing use of carrier bags by 33% and making all plastic bags from recycled plastic Trialling 'closed loop' recycling in six store cafes, where used packaging can be recycled into M&S product packaging. This scheme will be rolled out across over 450 Café Revives and staff restaurants Ensuring that, within 5 years, no M&S clothing goes to landfill by finding alternatives to disposal such as reusing, composting and recycling. 3. RAW MATERIALS - sustainable sources Ensuring that key raw materials come from the most sustainable source possible, in order to protect the environment and the world's natural resources. The company's commitment includes: Using only wood which is recycled or certified as coming from a sustainable source by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or equivalent standard where FSC wood is not available. This will include wood used in: furniture, books, cards, packaging, catalogues, kitchen/toilet roll, printer/photocopier paper and marketing materials. This adds to the 80 million sandwich packs sold each year made from cardboard from FSC certified sources and the A grade rating the company received from Greenpeace for its garden furniture in 2006. Converting all fresh turkey, geese, duck and pork to Free Range, building on the company's position of only using Free Range shell eggs and eggs used as an ingredient. Selling only fish which is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or another independently certified source, adding to the steps M&S have already taken and building on its position as Greenpeace's no.1 responsible fish retailer. Using recycled plastic (e.g. bottles) not oil, to make polyester for clothing and home products. Tripling sales of organic food and launching organic cotton, linen and wool. Ensuring produce and livestock farmers meet an independent environmental standard such as LEAF or FWAG. Reducing the water use in stores, offices and distribution centres by 20% and working with suppliers via the Supplier Exchange to reduce water use during the growing, production and manufacture of products. 4. FAIR PARTNER - improving the lives of people Improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the supply chain and local communities. The company's commitment includes: Managing labour standards in the supply chain, building on existing global standards and a robust monitoring programme. Converting key clothing ranges to 100% Fairtrade cotton, including all £5 women's and men's t-shirts and around 12 million garments in total. Over the next twelve months this will rise to 20 million garments, as the company adds in new ranges of men's shirts, and lingerie vests. This equates to around one third of the world's supply of Fairtrade cotton in 2006. Building on the success of Fairtrade coffee and tea by offering Fairtrade bananas, jam and bagged sugar and moving into other vulnerable supply chains like those for sugar cane and cocoa used across the company's food range. Working with farmers to extend the existing industry leading Milk Pledge pricing scheme into new farming sectors. Launching the M&S Supplier Exchange to support suppliers - by sharing best practice, stimulating innovation and helping them secure funds for investment Helping disadvantaged groups like the disabled and homeless get into jobs through work placements in the UK (600 adults per year) and overseas (150 adults per year) through the Marks & Start programme 5. HEALTHY EATING - helping customers and employees choose a healthier lifestyle. The company intends to build on the work it has already done, removing HVOs from all food and removing artificial colours, flavours and all unnecessary preservatives from all fresh prepared food. M&S is also introducing Food Standards Agency Traffic Lights and Guideline Daily Allowance (GDA) product labelling. The company's commitments include: Introducing 1,500 Healthy Eating Assistants in stores and extending the same training, developed in collaboration with the British Nutrition Foundation, to all staff in food halls within 3 years Aiming to increase the amount of "Eat Well" nutritionally balanced food sold from 30% to 50% of food sales Continuing to lead the sector in reducing the use of salt to meet and exceed 2010 FSA targets having already achieved these targets for ready meals, bread and breakfast cereals Replacing artificial colours with natural colours in kids' sweets and cakes in 12 months Helping employees to live healthy lifestyles by launching a M&S Health and Lifestyle Information Intranet, providing them with advice and maintaining free breast screening for female employees over 40.