Sri Lankan Partner in Zero-Emissions Plan.
Marks & Spencer and two of the retailer’s long-term suppliers are to develop it’s first ‘eco-factories’. Among them is a new factory, to be built in Sri Lanka in conjunction with MAS Intimates and due to open early in 2008.
The others are furniture-upholstery sites in North Wales, both of them existing factories, run by Westbridge, which has committed to make them carbon neutral by 2010 and to send no waste to landfill.
M&S says the sites will also maximise the use of sustainable materials such as Fair-trade and organic cotton, recycled polyester fibre fillings, Castor oil-based foam and Forest Stewardship Council approved timber. M&S will provide MAS and Westbridge with advice on sustainable construction, based on experience gained in it’s ‘eco stores’, as well as making a contribution to architects’ design costs or sponsorship of key building elements.
Their different features will reportedly include a ‘green roof’ made from vegetation, the ability to harvest rainwater, compressed-rice straw board for partitioned walls and the use of sun to light production areas.
The announcement was made as part of the first update on Plan A, M&S’s £200 million ‘eco-plan’ launched in January. This sets a number of targets for the company, including becoming carbon neutral and sending no waste to landfill within five years. The plan also aims to extend the company’s sustainable sourcing, set new standards in ethical trading and help customers and employees to live a healthier lifestyle.
Stuart Rose, M&S’s chief executive, said:
“We’re already making progress on our 100 ‘Plan A’ goals, but we’ve a long way to go before we meet the ambitious targets we’ve set.”
Article taken from IMPACT – Issue 1 [June 2007]
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