Marks & Spencer fund kerbside recycling programme

News Article - 05 March 2010
Category: Environment

Over the next five years Marks & Spencer will invest £1.25m in a new kerbside recycling programme that will use materials collected to make environmentally friendly packaging for its stores. The money will part-fund the scheme in collaboration with Somerset County Council.

Three more partnerships with local councils are expected in the next three years, one of which will be based in Kent. Marks & Spencer have said the investments should help councils collect an additional 60,000 tonnes of recyclable materials each year by 2015. A portion of this will be used by the company to fulfil packaging needs, with the rest being sold on to other packaging producers.

The investment forms part of Marks & Spencer's Plan A sustainability strategy which has made waste reduction and packaging improvements a major focus. Since 2007, the retailer has cut food packaging levels by 16%. More than 90% of its packaging is now made from recycled materials.

The company is also targeting carrier bag use which has become topical in recent years for contributing excessively to landfill sites. Many of the larger retailers have been criticised for failing to promote uptake of sustainable alternatives to non-degradable carrier bags.

Large retailers are becoming more innovative in the ways they contribute to carbon footprint reduction. With pressure increasing from green groups, in addition to aggressive carbon reduction targets proposed by the government, the need for more progressive sustainability measures has never been more pronounced. More retailers are developing extensive environmentally-friendly campaigns to increase investment and improve brand image.

As large companies ramp up investment in eco-related projects, mid-market organisations in the supply chain may face strong pressure to comply. To ensure resources do not become overwhelmed, Access is advising mid-market companies how business software can develop corporate infrastructure to ensure the unique demands of sustainability investment can be met with adequate resources. Tracking carbon emissions is one of the most important steps a company can take, as without accurate data on areas of carbon intensity behavioural change cannot be implemented efficiently.

Please call 0845 345 3300 for more information.

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