Who
In 1884, Michael Marks opened his first bazaar in Leeds under ‘Don’t ask the price, it’s a penny’ slogan. His simple idea and hard work soon paid off and Michael Marks opened market stalls in many locations around the North West of England. In 1894, Tom Spencer went into partnership with Michael Marks and the company started to take shape.

For 125 years, M&S has been trusted by its customers to offer high quality, great value products; and nowadays, with over 21 million customers in its over 700 stores located throughout the UK, M&S has become the UK’s leading retailer of quality clothing, food and home products. The company has over 300 stores worldwide, is operating in more than 40 territories and employs over 73,000 people in the UK.

What
Aware of the damaging consequences produced by the climate change, M&S is committed to make its operations in the UK and Ireland carbon neutral and help its customers and suppliers reduce their emissions too. The company is using more renewable electricity, including power generated from small scale wind turbines and anaerobic digestion facilities. M&S has helped its suppliers set up four eco factories, which use around 50% less energy and water.

The company launched the Plan A way to save, which aims to help households save up to £1,000 a year by washing at 30°C, using higher spin speeds and air drying along with reducing food waste. M&S has also widened the choice of A-rated energy efficiency, household appliances it offers to over 3,000 products and launched M&S Energy, a tariff that rewards customers for reducing energy use.

M&S is committed to stop sending waste to landfill from its UK and Ireland operations and to reduce its use of packaging and carrier bags. The company is using less packaging and recycling more waste, as well as supporting a diverse range of initiatives to encourage this purpose.

M&S is also committed to make sure that the key raw materials the company use come from the most sustainable sources available. By working in partnership and maintaining its joint efforts to tackle the complexities involved in sourcing sustainable wood and cotton, as well as extending the company’s access to fish stocks that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council and other credible independent schemes.

The company aims to improve the lives of people in its supply chains and local communities. Through Plan A, M&S has improved its strong ethical trading programme, introducing local Regional Compliance Managers in seven countries around the world to monitor ethical standards by carrying out audits at short notice.

M&S employees try to help customers, local communities and each other in many ways some are Plan A Champions or Healthy Eating Assistants. They also support Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the Prostate Cancer Charity and Marks & Start.

Employees are recognised in Your M&S magazine and at Marks & Spencer’s annual Employee Volunteer Awards. Additionally the company has strengthened its diversity, health and safety policies within the workplace.

Why
Marks & Spencer aims to deliver long-term value through an environmentally and sustainable business. In January 2007, the company decided to invest £200m over five years in Plan A, as the modern expression of how they do business. Plan A builds on core values that have underpinned the company’s business from the beginning: Quality, Value, Service, Innovation and Trust. Over the past two years, Plan A has become cost positive.

Business benefits
How We Do Business Report 2009 covers Marks & Spencer’s social, environmental and ethical performance. Determined to improve its environmental performance, the report shows that M&S has:

• Reduced the net carbon emissions from its operations by 18% against 2006/2007
• Improved energy efficiency in its stores by 10%, in its warehouses by 7% and reduced fuel use in its delivery fleets by more than 20%. M&S fleets now operate 241 fuel-saving teardrop trailers and are testing electric and diesel hybrid vehicles
• Reduced its usage of non-glass packaging on food products by 12% and general merchandise by 15% per item against 2006/2007
• Cut food waste by 20% against last year through price discounts on short shelf life products and doubled the number of coat hangers the company re-uses
• Increased its usage of recycled PET plastic bottles to 37 million, shifting their use from clothes to recycled polyester filing for home products
• Ensured that 50% of all wood products used to build and fit its stores now come from forest Stewardship Council assured sourced
• Reduced the water used in its operations by 11% per square foot against 2006/2007.
• Aiming to be a fair partner to everyone connected with its business, M&S has supported diverse programmes and training schemes. The company has:
• Completed over 21,000 hours of supplier training in order to help them improve working conditions
   

Employees have also welcomed Plan A as a way to make Marks & Spencer’s business more efficient. The 2009 report shows that M&S has:

• Achieved the lowest employee turnover rates in UK retail, at 23% for customer assistants and 12% for management. Moreover, 44% of employees have been in M&S for five years, and 26% for more than 10 years
• Enhanced the communication introducing The Top 100 Briefings and Director Breakfasts to bring managers and employees together more regularly to update each other on business wide issues. It also uses regular newsletters and an intranet site to keep employees informed
• Supported employees by ‘Your M&S Career Path’ training and development programmes. For instance, in 2008/2009 M&S trained 152 retail graduates ready for appointment as commercial managers
• Launched Lead to Succeed; a development programme aimed at helping its senior leaders to lead their teams and its organisation
• Maintained an environment where diversity is valued
• Supported health, safety and fire risk policies, participating in The Lead Authority Partnership Scheme with West Midlands Fire Service and The City of Edinburgh Council
   

Community benefits

• Achieved that 15% of its customers now wash at lower temperature, saving 50,000 tonnes CO2, as a result of its Think Climate Wash at 30°C campaign
• Launched its 5p carrier bag charge campaign, which has reduced the use of one-trip polythene bags in its food halls by 83% and raise £1.2m to help fund 46 local environmental initiatives in partnership with Groundwork
• Achieved the participation of 875,000 customers helping the company raise £1.9m for Oxfam Clothes Exchange initiative, by recycling 3.2 million items of unwanted clothing
• Launched it Christmas card recycling scheme with the Woodland Trust. Due this campaign, customers recycled 175 tonnes of paper waste
• Continued with its Marks & Start work experience programme. This programme has helped 2,800 disadvantaged people back into work since 2004; with 40% of those who completed it going on to find employment.
• Donated products worth £3.7m to the Newlife Foundation charity to support children with disabilities and illness
• M&S has also helped its customers to raise £2m for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, over £200,000 for the Prostate Cancer charity and £500,000 for Shelter
• M&S has developed its healthier food ranges to make up 30% of its entire food offer. The company has also trained 1,500 Health Eating Assistants to operate in its stores and to encourage its customers to choose healthier lifestyles

Website www.marksandspencer.com