Marks & Spencer has declared that it is the first major retailer in the world to become carbon neutral.
In 2007, M&S set out its ambition to become carbon neutral as part of the Plan A ethical commitments. The goal was finally reached earlier this year, the company said, by a mixture of emission cuts and the purchase of carbon offsets balancing the remaining emissions.
Over the past five years, M&S has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 22%, even as sales space grew by 18%. Lower electricity use, improved fuel efficiency and reduced gas leaks from refrigeration units all helped bring emissions down.
To offset emissions, M&S invested in initiatives including forestry projects in Malaysia and Kenya, wind power projects in Turkey and India, and biomass energy projects in China and Sri Lanka.
In a report on the first five years of Plan A, M&S said it had achieved 138 of the 180 commitments, including its promise to stop sending waste sent to landfill.
The report revealed it was on target to achieve a further 30, was behind plan on six and had failed the remaining six.
For reasons of consumer demand, M&S had not met its targets to triple organic food sales or convert all fresh turkey, geese, pork and duck products to free range.
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