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07/06/2012
M&S Become First UK 'Carbon Neutral' Retailer
Five years after launching its sustainability project, 'Plan A', M&S have announced they have become fully ‘carbon neutral’ making them the first major UK retailer to do so.
However, despite the company's progress in meeting many of the targets in its programme, its management admit disappointment at its failure to meet some of the more ambitious challenges, such as tripling sales of organic food and drink.
The 2012 How We Do Business Report, published on Thursday, sets out in detail the progress of the 180 commitments to ensure sustainable policies are at the heart of every aspect of its business, including its complex international supply chain.
The new report reveals that 138 commitments have been achieved and a further 30 are 'on plan', meaning they are on target to be met within the specified timescale. Overall the net benefit of Plan A to the business last year was £105m, a 50% increase on the £70m delivered in 2010/11.
The company says it has reduced energy usage by 28% through more efficient refrigeration, and counting renewable energy tariffs and offsetting.
It also now recycles 100% of its waste. Of its food waste from stores, 89% goes straight to anaerobic digestors to generate energy and the rest is composted. And 31% of M&S products, £3bn worth, now have a Plan A attribute such as Fairtrade, organic or made from recycled material. The longer-term goal is that by 2020, all M&S products will have at least one sustainable characteristic.
(H)
However, despite the company's progress in meeting many of the targets in its programme, its management admit disappointment at its failure to meet some of the more ambitious challenges, such as tripling sales of organic food and drink.
The 2012 How We Do Business Report, published on Thursday, sets out in detail the progress of the 180 commitments to ensure sustainable policies are at the heart of every aspect of its business, including its complex international supply chain.
The new report reveals that 138 commitments have been achieved and a further 30 are 'on plan', meaning they are on target to be met within the specified timescale. Overall the net benefit of Plan A to the business last year was £105m, a 50% increase on the £70m delivered in 2010/11.
The company says it has reduced energy usage by 28% through more efficient refrigeration, and counting renewable energy tariffs and offsetting.
It also now recycles 100% of its waste. Of its food waste from stores, 89% goes straight to anaerobic digestors to generate energy and the rest is composted. And 31% of M&S products, £3bn worth, now have a Plan A attribute such as Fairtrade, organic or made from recycled material. The longer-term goal is that by 2020, all M&S products will have at least one sustainable characteristic.
(H)
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