Marks and Spencer 2009 Annual Report Download - page 48

44 Marks and Spencer Group plc Annual report and financial statements 2009 Directors’ report
Integrating Plan A
continued
During the year we launched the Fern
Collection which is produced using timber
sourced from sustainably managed forest
and Fairtrade certified covers. The Fern
furniture is also filled with a combination
of Ecoflex foam – a castor oil based foam
containing 20% renewable resources –
and fibre made from 80% post-consumer
waste. This includes plastic drink bottles,
122 of which are used to make every
two-seater sofa.
Fair partner
Plan A is not only becoming ingrained in the
way we do business and in the way we interact
with our customers; it is also integrated into
the way we conduct our day-to-day business
with suppliers. As a fair partner we’re committed
to improving the lives of the hundreds of
thousands of people in our supply chain
and local communities.
Work on three garment factories in
Bangladesh – part of our Ethical Model
Factories – helps us to do this, by creating
sustainable ways of improving the livelihood
of those who work in the factories. By providing
workers rights, supervisor and production
training we are ensuring long-term
improvements in labour standards
and establishment of a living wage.
But setting new standards as a fair partner
is not just about helping overseas. M&S
prides itself on our work at home in the UK.
Marks & Start is our flagship community
programme and is the country’s largest
company-led work experience
programme. Some 705 work
placements were given out last year.
We have also completed a successful
year with Breakthrough, the breast cancer
charity. Since 2001 we have raised a
staggering £11m – making us their largest
corporate partner.
Health
M&S has long led the way in food innovation,
which is now more important than ever in
helping our customers and employees lead
healthier lifestyles.
Our current focus is on natural enrichment
for instance the inclusion of probiotics in food
such as yogurts and by feeding omega to
salmon. We have identified what people are
missing in their diets and are finding a way
to put these essential vitamins back in.
This builds on our commitment that all of
our food is now entirely free of artificial flavours
and colourings. We have also continued to
expand our ‘Eat Well’ healthier options,
reduce salt, and eliminate hydrogenated fats.
We have reduced the level of saturated fats by
70% across our range of crisps, and by 30%
across our range of sandwiches. We now
meet over 67% of the FSA’s salt targets for
2010.
125 YEARS OF INNOVATION
Below: Walk this way We again supported
‘Beefy’s Great British Walk’ for childhood leukaemia.
The former cricketer started each of the nine legs
of his walk at one of our stores, raising £24,000 –
which M&S matched.
125 YEARS OF INNOVATION
Above: Supporting cancer charities The Prostate
Cancer Charity supports the 35,000 men affected
by prostate cancer each year. During March 2009
we donated 10% of the sales from ‘Autograph’
underwear to the charity. The campaign was fronted
by Channel 4 News’ anchorman Jon Snow, his
cousin, presenter Peter Snow and Peter’s son Dan.
Funds support the UK wide helpline staffed by
specialist Prostate Cancer nurses.
125 YEARS OF TRUST
Below: Strength in numbers From WWF and
Groundwork to WRAP and Oxfam, our partners
are vital to the way we do business. By recycling
175 tonnes or Christmas cards, the equivalent of
9 million cards, our customers have helped us to
plant trees across the UK with the Woodland Trust.
125 YEARS OF TRUST
Above: Fairtrade Since Plan A was launched
we’ve sold nearly 13 million Fairtrade certified cotton
garments and home products – as well as 100%
Fairtrade tea, coffee, bagged sugar and conserves.
125 YEARS OF SERVICE
Right: Eat Well Healthier food ranges
now comprise 30% of our total food offer.