UK multinational retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has recently released its 2024 ESG report, detailing progress across major aspects of the business. Notably, the company has committed to achieving net zero across its entire value chain by 2039/40, with a 34% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025/26 as a near-term target.
The company, which specializes in clothing, homeware, food and gifts, now operates 1,064 stores in the UK, and 403 others around the world. It has a global presence in over 100 international markets, with this number projected to expand in the coming years.
Marks and Spencer have noted that the majority of their emissions fall within the Scope 3 range, at 94% of their total footprint. Their food business makes up the majority of this figure at 58%.
M&S’s net zero plan is outlined through four main areas: responsible sourcing, sustainable manufacturing, waste and circularity, and operational efficiencies.
Marks and Spencer: Sourcing challenges
In the realm of sourcing, the company reports that over 70% of emissions in its food business stems from primary agriculture, with the majority coming from the production of meat. Working with farmers, states the company, is a key priority. Here, it is partnering with over 16,000 select farmers to help them reduce their environmental impact.
“There is growing acknowledgement of the role that animals can play in ‘regenerative’ farming systems and in restoring soil health,” it states in the report. “Our approach is to decarbonise our meat and milk through working with our UK farmers on new production models and driving on-farm innovation.
“Our Pathway Beef, for example, already has a carbon footprint 40% lower than the UK’s average and we have developed plans with our suppliers to reduce carbon right across our meat supply chain.”
Through its Marks and Spencer Select Farm Programme, every supplier farm is rigorously assessed to ensure compliance with high welfare standards. This assessment is supported by the independent consultancy FAI Farms, which gathers extensive welfare metrics for livestock and fin fish to inform continuous improvement plans, which are publicly shared.
M&S boasts the broadest range of RSPCA Assured products among UK retailers, covering everything from fresh milk to pork and poultry, adhering to standards that ensure enriched living conditions and a quality life for animals. The company has also achieved Tier 1 status in Crustacean Compassion’s Industry Benchmark on Decapod Crustacean Welfare and maintains a leadership role in the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare.
Significant efforts are made to enhance humane practices across all seafood procurement, with ongoing projects to reduce by-catch and improve catch methods for lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. Additionally, a new initiative for 2024/25 will introduce a Select Farms Assessments app to facilitate real-time, on-farm welfare assessments, boosting transparency and standardization across all supplier assessments.
Other than that, Marks and Spencer is focusing on sourcing 100% of soy from verified deforestation and conversion-free regions. It is also looking to obtain 100% segregated responsibly sourced palm oil. Both are set to be achieved by a target of 2025/26.
Sustainable manufacturing in the food business
Sustainable manufacturing is another key area in achieving net zero. A significant component of this strategy involves increasing the range of plant-based proteins, aiming to double the sales of vegan and vegetarian products by the 2024/25 financial year.
To extend its impact beyond its direct operations, Marks and Spencer is leveraging the digital platform Manufacture 2030 to enhance transparency and track environmental progress among its supply chain partners. This collaboration involves major UK grocery retailers and focuses on gathering comprehensive environmental performance data, facilitating access to resources that support improvements.
In 2023, M&S organized four Supplier Exchange events, engaging over 100 partners in discussions on environmental risk assessment, product carbon footprinting, renewable energy, and sustainable water management.
Despite progress, challenges remain, especially in expanding Scope 3 emission targets among suppliers, underscoring M&S’s continued focus on areas needing the most support.
Waste and operational efficiency
Marks and Spencer has set targets to transform its approach to food waste and packaging. By the 2025/26 financial year, the company aims to redistribute 100% of its edible surplus food, with 85% progress already made towards this goal.
Additionally, M&S plans to halve its food waste by 2030, relative to a 2017/18 baseline, with a 44% reduction already achieved. In terms of packaging, M&S is working to make all packaging recyclable by 2025/26 and has committed to eliminating 1 billion units of plastic packaging by 2027/28, having already removed 144 million units.
On the logistics side, following the acquisition of Gist, M&S is shifting towards a more sustainable fleet, incorporating Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and fully electric vehicles.
The company acknowledges that air freight of fresh food is a significant source of emissions. To combat this, it has adapted its “freeze-defrost” program to include technical adjustments that maintain the quality of transported products while maximizing carbon savings.
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