Marks & Spencer celebrates achievement of 70 Plan A targets

In its half-yearly update on the project, Marks & Spencer said highlights in the last six months include an increase in the amount of operational waste recycled in its stores, offices and distribution centres to 92% from 53% in June.

The retailer has distributed 35,000 energy monitors free to staff to help them reduce their home energy use and 20 new M&S-sponsored ‘greener living spaces – funded by the retailer’s 5p charge on food carrier bags – have been announced by environmental charity partner Groundwork.

Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose, who launched Plan A to make the business “the world’s most sustainable retailer” by 2015, said: “By making Plan A profitable, we’ve proved that doing the right thing can be good for business as well as being good for the environment, suppliers, employees and customers.”

Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland said: “Plan A is an integral part of our business and at the heart of the M&S brand. It gives us something uniquely different – something that’s only at M&S.”