JUST GOOD BUSINESS BUZZ : M&S takes sustainability lead

A bold new bid by Marks and Spencer (M&S) to become the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015 sends an important signal to New Zealand businesses in the export supply chain.
The UK retailer is launching 80 major new commitments under new eco and ethical plan. Amongst other things, it will involve:
• converting 2.7 billion food, clothing and home items to meet the plan’s sustainability standards;
• encouraging 21 million customers to live more sustainable lifestyles;
• ushering in liveable wages at clothing supplier factories in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India;
• training and education programmes – including in basic healthcare and workers’ rights – for 500,000 workers in suppliers’ factories;
• encouraging 10,000 food-supplying farmers to adopt sustainable foods programme;
• launching an incubator fund to support the development of innovative new products and services worth about $150 million; and
• offering free home insulation and energy monitors to all eligible employees as well as giving them one paid day off year to work in their local communities.
Marks and Spencer (M&S) says environmental and social issues remain important to UK consumers and its new initiatives send strong message to Kiwi businesses about behaving sustainably if they want access to high value overseas markets, says NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development chief executive Peter Neilson.
Noting that recent council research shows 65 percent of New Zealanders say company’s environmental practices have big influence on whether or not they buy its products, he says it’s foolhardy firm now which doesn’t do its best for the environment.