M&S Nears in on Cutting Food Waste by 20 Percent by 2020

10 Jun 2016 --- Marks & Spencer says it has reduced food waste by nine percent per 1,000 sq ft of food selling space during 2015 and 2016, according to the latest update to its sustainability goals.

The UK retail giant launched its Plan A sustainability targets in 2007, a series of goals for the business to achieve which spanned waste, natural resources, climate change and other areas.

M&S, which has earmarked reducing food waste by a fifth by 2020, said the reduction in food waste has been achieve due to improved estimations of the level of food waste it produces, as well the roll out of its unsold food redistribution scheme.

The redistribution scheme is run in conjunction with social networking app Neighbourly and works by individual M&S stores registering the spare food they have which alerts around 500 local charities, such as food banks.

In a father move towards becoming more transparent and sustainable, M&S said that its customers can now see where its food products are being sourced from, courtesy of its supply chain interactive map.

The map lists 540 food suppliers, as well as clothing and home suppliers.

Additionally, M&S said nearly three quarters of its products have an eco or ethical quality and that store and warehouse energy use was down 39%, and water use was down 31% in 2015 and 2016.

Steve Rowe, Marks & Spencer’s chief executive said: “We are putting customers right at the heart of our business. That includes Plan A as much as any other part of our business and that’s why Plan A is now part of our customer and marketing team.

“It is a crucial part of how we engage with our customers, gain their trust and make every moment special for them. We know that Plan A is a win-win approach – a simpler, more efficient, less wasteful business is better for the planet and our bottom line – so we’ll chase that even harder.”

Mike Barry, Director of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer, said: “2015 was an important year for sustainable business and Plan A. Yet again we’ve achieved tough and stretching targets.”

“The successful Paris Climate negotiations and the launch of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals have created a
long-term direction of travel for the global economy and companies need a bold vision and comprehensive plan to make sure they are aligned with these important agreements.

“Under Steve’s leadership we’ll continue to play our part and crucially put the customer at the heart of everything we do, nurturing the strong trust they have in us and inspiring them with new and innovative solutions to more sustainable living that feels personal and local to them.”