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As a major feature in our 100-point plan, we have committed to ensuring that all of the key raw materials used in our business, come from the most sustainable source possible, in order to protect the environment and the world’s natural resources.

Forests are an incredibly valuable natural resource for helping to regulate the climate, water cycles and prevent soil erosion, and they are also incredibly valuable to our business.

M&S uses a number of raw materials that originate from regions of the world where the impacts of unsustainable logging practices are significant. That’s why, in March 2010, we made a commitment that the six raw materials that could make the biggest contribution to climate change will only come from the most sustainable sources by 2015. This includes palm oil, soy, cocoa, beef, leather & coffee.

We are already making great progress on a number of these commodities.

Palm oil
We are active members of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to ensure we are part of a global force striving for a responsible approach to palm oil production, which includes criteria to protect the natural environment and important species such as the Orangutan.

By 2015, we aim to use only 100% fully traceable certified sustainable palm oil. As a first step in our journey, in October 2009, we become the first retailer in the world to purchase GreenPalm certificates for all of our palm oil use in M&S products. We believe that by purchasing GreenPalm certificates we will help in driving demand for sustainable raw materials in the marketplace, and as a result increase the supply. Furthermore, we now sell 8 products which contain palm oil from sustainable sources. We aim to continually increase this overtime as we work towards our 2015 deadline.

Our work on palm oil ties in with our partnership with the WWF which was formed in 2007. In particular, our support of their conservation work in the Heart of Borneo region. This project aims to work with Malaysian, Indonesian and Brunei governments to end deforestation and to create incentives to protect forests rather than to cut them down. The project will rehabilitate 50 ha of forest - the size of 50 football pitches – a vital habitat for Orang-utans and other wonderful creatures of Borneo. As part of this initiative, WWF will also be working with forestry and plantation management companies to obtain sustainable certification for their practice.

Soy
We are active members of the Roundtable for Responsible Soy (RTRS). The RTRS aim to launch a responsible production standard for soy by 2011, and we continue alongside other members of the RTRS to ensure that producers respect the natural environment and do not impact biodiversity and contribution to deforestation.

Beef
We work closely with all of our suppliers to ensure that we only source from producers that promote the highest levels of animal welfare, respect the environment, and specifically do not contribute to deforestation. Fundamental to this is that we put in place robust traceability systems to track materials through our supply chain, as is the case with our non-GMO soy policy for animal feed and all of the beef used in M&S products. None of our beef contributes to deforestation in the Amazon.

Leather
We are members of the BLC Traceability Working Group which aims to establish a monitoring system for beef and leather goods.

Coffee
All of the coffee that we sell is Fairtrade certified. We are working closely with our suppliers to ensure that meet our Plan A commitment to ensure that no coffee originates from sources that contribute to deforestation.

Cocoa
Similarly, we are working with our cocoa suppliers to best understand how we can promote the most environmentally responsible practices in cocoa production.

Timber
Our commitment to ensure that no raw materials come from sources that contribute to deforestation, compliments our long term ambition to only use wood from recycled or FSC sources, or where FSC sources are not available our wood will come from sources that protect forests and communities. Already, 72% of the wood that we use meets this policy. We are working closely with the Rainforest Alliance to ensure that by 2012, the remainder of our wood will come from the most responsibly managed sources.

Our support of other initiatives
In 2009, we participated in the inaugural Forest Footprint Disclosure Project.

The first Disclosure Request, in the form of a questionnaire, was sent to 217 high profile international companies. This year, M&S was awarded the title of ‘Best Performer’ in the General Retail sector. We hope through our participation in the project we can share our experience and inspire other business to take the same approach in tackling one of the biggest issues for business and the environment.

We welcome the Forest Footprint Disclosure project as an important step in raising public awareness, importantly within the investment community, around the value of forests and the important role that business can play. View a video on M&S' participation in the project here: www.marksandspencer.com/MS-TV/b/311612031

M&S is also a supporter of the Prince’s Rainforest Trust which aims to protect rainforests by make them more valued standing, than cut down.