DNV GL has independently assured the M&S 2016 Plan A report, providing an update on its long-standing eco and ethical programme. The report outlines how M&S continues to progress integrating sustainability into its business model, and performance against its 100+ commitments, with 57 achieved to date. A further 22 commitments were achieved in 2015/16 and good progress was made in engaging its customers in Plan A.
Key strengths include stakeholder inclusiveness and wider involvement with strategic initiatives such as the Paris Climate Change negotiations and the UN SDGs. M&S has also made progress against commitments in areas such as energy and water efficiency, food waste and youth work placements.
2015/16 Plan A highlights:
- Charity donations help reduce food waste by 9%
- Plastic microbeads removed to help protect marine life
- Clothing and food suppliers detailed on interactive supply chain map
- Only certified sustainable palm oil used in M&S products
- Nearly three quarters of M&S products have an eco or ethical quality
- 90% of Sparks card holders have chosen a charity to support and donations set to pass £1 million mark
- Store and warehouse energy use down 39%, water use down 31%
- First M&S Human Rights Report published
Looking forward, DNV GL’s Assurance Statement also provides details of recommendations on challenges and areas for improvement. It recommends that M&S considers providing more commentary on the challenges it faces in areas such as customer clothes recycling, customer awareness and international energy efficiency. We also suggest more ambitious targets in areas such as Promoting Healthy Food and Supply Chain fair wages.
For more details on M&S progress and DNV GL’s Assurance Statement, please see page 38 of the Plan A Report.
M&S also recently won “Best Report” and “Openness and Honesty” categories in the 2016 Corporate Register Reporting Awards.