M & S: programme to be world's most sustainable retailer by 2015

Marks & Spencer announces a programme to be the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015, launching 80 major new commitments under M & S’ eco and ethical plan, Plan A. The new commitments will mean ensuring all M &S  products become ‘Plan A products’ with at least one sustainable quality, enable their 2,000 suppliers to adopt Plan A best practice, and encouraging M & S customers and employees to live ‘greener’ lifestyles. Some of the committments - a full list of the 80 new committments is available here

Converting all 2.7 billion individual M & S food, clothing and home items (across 36,000 product lines) sold every year into Plan A products, so that each carries at least one sustainable or ethical quality (e.g. carrying Fairtrade or Marine Stewardship Council certification or using free range or other sustainable ingredients). It is aimed to convert 50 % of the products by 2015, and 100 % by 2020.
 
Encouraging 21 million M & S customers to live a more sustainable lifestyle starting with the launch of a new competition – Your Green Idea – for customers to submit their ideas for green actions for M & S to adopt. The winning idea will receive 100,000 £ to be spent on greening an organisation such as a school, charity or small business. 
 
Helping their suppliers create 200  Plan A factories with either ethical or environmental features, or both, and encouraging 10,000 farmers who produce their fresh foods to join their sustainable agriculture programme. 
 
Sourcing all cardboard for M & S food packaging via a single model forest programme.
 
Becoming the first major retailer to ensure full traceability of all the key raw materials used in their clothing and home products including cotton, wool, polyester, nylon, leather and wood;.
 
Becoming the first major retailer to ensure that six key raw materials used - palm oil, soya, cocoa, beef, leather, coffee - come from sustainable sources that do not contribute to deforestation.