04 Sep 2007 - London,
UK – Under a new partnership, WWF will support
a plan by Marks & Spencer that aims
to combat climate change, reduce waste and
safeguard natural resources.
Known as Plan A, the British retailer has
committed to making its operations in the
UK and Republic of Ireland carbon neutral,
sending no waste to landfill and significantly
extending sustainable sourcing by 2012.
“We are taking bold action already within
our own business, although we have a long
way to go," said Stuart Rose, Chief
Executive of Marks & Spencer.
"We have also promised to reach out
to our customers, our staff and our suppliers
to help them to take action to reduce their
own environmental impact. We have already
made some real inroads here, but we are
delighted that we can now accelerate this
process with expert support and advice from
WWF.”
As part of the five-year, £200 million
eco-plan, Marks & Spencer will work
with WWF on environmental projects in its
agricultural supply chain as it looks to
increase its sourcing of sustainable raw
materials.
WWF will support Marks & Spencer in
its efforts to help customers and staff
to take action to reduce their individual
carbon footprint, including through the
WWF’s Footprint Calculator. The retailer
will also be funding WWF’s conservation
projects in Borneo and the North East Atlantic
Marine Eco-Region.
“Agriculture and the production of food
and textiles is where our human ecological
footprint is at its greatest and so we are
delighted to have strengthened our relationship
with Marks & Spencer to help us drive
better practices in this sector,” says David
Nussbaum, WWF-UK Chief Executive.
“This partnership will address some of
the most significant environmental challenges
on the high street today and Marks &
Spencer once again are showing themselves
to be at the cutting edge of environmental
retailing.”
Debbie Chapman, Senior Press Officer
WWF-UK