UK Retailer Marks & Spencer Pledges Zero Waste

UK Retailer Marks & Spencer pledges zero waste to landfill by 2012 — In January, 2007, Marks & Spencer announced plans to become a zero waste to landfill company. The strategy, which also includes targets to become carbon neutral and "set new standards in ethical trading", will see the company reducing its use of packaging by 25%, recycling back-of-store waste and stopping the sending of food waste to landfill.

The company intends to use anaerobic digestion to generate energy from its food waste. Marks and Spencer also said it would move towards using more recycled or "sustainable" packaging as well as restricting the range of packaging materials used to those which are easy to recycle or compost.

The company also intends to use recycled plastic in its carrier bags, and install recycling facilities in more than 450 of its Café Revives and staff restaurants.

A further pledge was made to ensure that "within 5 years, no M&S clothing needs to end up in landfill by finding alternatives to disposal such as re-using, composting and recycling". This could see much of the chain's polyester clothing made from recycled plastic bottles, according to chief executive Stuart Rose.

He said: "Every business and individual needs to do their bit to tackle the enormous challenges of climate change and waste. While M&S will continue to sell great quality, stylish and innovative products, our customers, employees and shareholders now expect us to take bold steps and do business differently and responsibly. We believe a responsible business can be a profitable business."

(Source: February 2007 WasteWatch)

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