WWF partners with Marks & Spencer on eco-plan

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.”