London, 2017-Jun-09 — /EPR Retail News/ — Marks & Spencer (M&S) has today (08 Jun 2017) published its 2017 Plan A report, detailing progress against its sustainable business plan for financial year 2016/17.
2016/17 Plan A highlights
- 4/5 M&S products now have an eco or ethical quality above market norm;
- Healthier food now accounts for 41% of M&S Food sales;
- Food, Home and Beauty suppliers added to interactive supply chain map;
- 93% of Sparks card holders have chosen a charity to support and £1.8 million donated in 2016/17;
- M&S ranked 2nd overall and top in Food and Clothing sectors in first Corporate Human Rights Benchmark;
- Supply chain training passes 800,000 target;
- 28% reduction in UK and ROI waste;
- Significant expansion of food surplus redistribution scheme;
- Stores, offices and warehouses raised £1.4 million for local charities and £6.9 million raised for health and wellbeing charities;
- All the electricity M&S procures classified as renewable.
64 of the Plan A 2020 commitments set in 2014 have been achieved with 25 progressing on plan, 11 behind plan and six commitments have not been achieved. 107* Plan A commitments were set in 2014 with deadlines ranging from 2017 to 2020.
During the year M&S continued to operate as a zero waste to landfill business (first achieved in 2012) and remains the only carbon neutral major retailer (four years in a row).
Mike Barry, Plan A Director at M&S, said: “In a year of change at M&S, Plan A has once again made a significant contribution to M&S and made good progress in making our products, stores and supply chains better for people, planet and communities.
“There are some outstanding achievements in the 2017 report and solid progress across our commitments. As will always be the case with an ambitious, stretching plan, some of our goals are behind plan, but in every case we have an action plan to address the challenges and hit our commitment targets.”
Plan A is now in its 10th year and a new ambitious, customer focused version of the plan, Plan A 2025, launched last week. The new plan focuses on helping to transform 1,000 communities, helping 10 million people live healthier happier lives and making M&S a zero-waste business. There are 100 bold commitments due to be completed over the next eight years.”
Mike Barry continued: “We’ve achieved so much over the last decade, but I’m very clear that it was just a dress rehearsal for the disruptive steps M&S will take over the next decade as Plan A 2025 helps transform M&S into a truly sustainable business.”
2016/17 Plan A highlights in more detail
4/5 M&S products now have an eco or ethical quality above market norm
79% of all M&S products sold worldwide now have an eco or ethical quality above the market norm such as Fairtrade, cruelty free beauty products or recycled packaging (target is 100% by 2020).
Healthier food now accounts for 41% of M&S Food sales
The Eat Well range was improved and expanded last year and the Balanced For You and Count on Us ranges continue to go from strength-to-strength. New products launched in 2016/17 include new healthy convenience choices such as Nourish Bowls and 41 products were added to the Made Without range. In total, healthier food now accounts for 41% of total M&S Food sales.
Food, Home and Beauty suppliers added to interactive supply chain map
Customers and stakeholders can now see where M&S Clothing, Home, Beauty and Food products are made or produced on the M&S supply chain interactive map. A total of 1,539 suppliers are listed. The map is updated every six months.
93% of Sparks card holders have chosen a charity to support and £1.8 million donated in 2016/17
93% of customers that hold a Sparks membership card have chosen one of ten charities to support. M&S donates a penny to the customer’s chosen charity every time they shop at M&S and donations were £1.8 million in 2016/17 (since the card was launched the figure is £2.4 million). Charities benefitting include Macmillan Cancer Support, Great Ormond Street and Shelter.
M&S ranked 2nd overall and top in Food and Clothing sectors in first Corporate Human Rights Benchmark
The recently published Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, which ranked 98 global companies on human rights performance, saw M&S ranked 2nd overall and top in both the Clothing and Food sectors.
Supply chain training passes 800,000 target
M&S passed its target of training 800,000 people (since 2010) in its supply chain in 2016/17 (now 890,000). Workers across the world have benefited from training on subjects such as employee rights, healthcare, numeracy and literacy.
28% reduction in UK and ROI waste
M&S has reduced the amount of waste it produces every year by 28% against a 2007 baseline. All the waste produced has been recycled since 2012 using a range of different material and energy recovery techniques.
Significant expansion of food surplus redistribution scheme
M&S’ food surplus redistribution scheme was significantly expanded in 2016/17. Nearly 600 charities benefited from the redistribution of surplus fruit, vegetables, bread, cakes and other groceries. 757 tonnes of surplus foods were donated (this compares to 168 tonnes in 2015/16). M&S works in partnership with Neighbourly, the social network for social good, to connect local charities with their local M&S store.
Stores, offices and warehouses raised £1.4 million for local charities and £6.9 million raised for health and wellbeing charities
In 2016/17 M&S stores, offices and warehouses raised £1.4 million for local charities – the majority coming through stores adopting a ‘charity of the year’ through the Neighbourly social network. Additionally, £6.9 million was raised last year for health and wellbeing charities such as Breast Cancer Now (£2.8m) and Macmillan Cancer Support (£3.5m) through fundraising, events and product sales.
All the electricity M&S procures classified as renewable
In 2016/17 all the electricity purchased for M&S stores, offices and warehouses in the UK and ROI came from green tariff renewable sources or on-site generation, or was supported by other market-place instruments. Additionally, 27% of M&S’ gas consumption has been replaced with bio-methane.
For the full report please visit http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/
* One of the Plan A commitments set in 2014 has subsequently been cancelled, as detailed in the 2015 Plan A report.
Contact:
Daniel Himsworth
Marks & Spencer Press Office
0208 718 1919
daniel.himsworth@marks-and-spencer.com
Source: Marks & Spencer