Marks & Spencer Case Study

Phases

• Marks & Spencer launched their sustainability initiative "Plan A" ten years ago.
• At the time it was launched, Plan A contained 100 commitments designed to tackle five key sustainability issues: climate change, waste, resources, fair partnerships, and health.
• In 2017 Marks & Spencer launched a second iteration of the sustainability plan which they called Plan A 2025. Plan A 2025 strengthens the commitments made in the original Plan A, and contains 100 new targets.
• The Plan A 2025 Commitments document by Marks & Spencer lays out 10 overarching goals, the three pillars of the plan, and detailed information on specific goals and actions the company will take to reach each of its targets.
• The three pillars of Plan A 2025 include: "Nourishing our Wellbeing," "Transforming Lives and Communities," and "Caring for the Planet We All Share."
• Each pillar of the plan contains its own specific goals. For example, under the pillar "Caring for the Planet We All Share" Marks & Spencer commits to targets including: halving net food waste by 2025, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% (relative to 2006-7) by 2030, and 90% by 2035, and sourcing all 50 key raw materials used in production from ethical and sustainable sources by 2025.
• Marks & Spencer lays out the general cycle of its sustainability initiative as: listen and respond in ways that inspire customers; strategize, plan, and innovate; develop and design; source and buy with integrity; brand and sell; and finally, serve and engage in a way that is in touch with customers' needs and desires.

Communication and PR

• Very detailed information on Marks & Spencer's sustainability plan is available and prominently displayed on its company website. The Sustainability section of the website contains details about the plan and its goals, and links to PDF documents which contain a wealth of detailed information on specific targets, steps, and progress reports relevant to the sustainability plan.
• Marks & Spencer has also made more than 10 different press releases regarding Plan A since 2018. Most of these press releases focus on specific progress updates for Plan A 2025 or new initiatives aimed towards increasing sustainability.
• Marks & Spencer's has done well in communicating sustainability as one of its core brand values: Ecosystem Marketplace recognized Marks & Spencer and as a leader in corporate responsibility, and Sustainable Brands reported that Marks & Spencer's sustainability plan was notable for its specific commitments, detailed timeline, and science-based goals and procedures.

Results

• The Plan A 2025 Performance Summary from 2018 shows that of the 100 targets, 2 have been achieved, 48 are on plan, 13 are behind plan, and 37 have not yet been started.
• In the first year of Plan A 2025, Marks & Spencer made sustainability steps which included: the launch of a line of denim jeans which it describes as one of the most sustainable clothing items it has ever produced, became the first major retailer to source all its dairy products from RSPCA approved farms, worked with and listened to the needs of 10 pilot communities in order to develop plans for improving education, employability and social wellbeing, and worked as a founding member of the UK Plastics Pact which contains specific commitments for reducing the amount of plastics used in particular items.
• Although many goals have yet to be achieved, Marks & Spencer notes that many goals are satisfactorily on schedule for the eight-year plan, and that it is working to develop strategies that will allow it to meet all 100 targets over the course of the plan.