Waste and recycling for M&S stores, offices and warehouses in the UK and Republic of Ireland
We are committed to send no operational waste to landfill and are making good progress in this area. We have calculated the total amount of waste generated by our business wherever we have operational control and have also conducted a number of trials to process food waste into energy. For 2007/08 the amount of waste we sent to landfill was 51,000 tonnes (2006/07 54,000 tonnes, down 6%) – see table below.
|
| 2006/07 Tonnes
| 2007/08 Tonnes
| % change |
| Total waste produced |
86,000 |
93,000 |
+8 |
| Amount recycled or re-used |
32,000 |
42,000 |
+31 |
| % of total waste which is recycled or re-used |
37% |
45% |
+9 |
| Amount sent to landfill |
54,000 |
51,000 |
-6 |
This data has been calculated from a combination of actual measurements and sampled estimates. It excludes construction waste.
Packaging
Taking a responsible approach to the packaging we use is a fundamental part of Plan A.
Packaging has an important role to play – keeping food safe to eat, for example, as well as undamaged in transit. It can also help prevent food waste: under-packaged food can have a shorter shelf life, which may lead to it being thrown away.
Responsible packaging is all about looking at the total picture: not over- or under-packaging, and using the right materials from sustainable sources.
The four key targets we've set ourselves are:
- to reduce our non-glass product packaging by 25% by 2012;
- to use only recyclable or compostable packaging by 2012;
- to use more sustainable raw materials in our packaging; and
- to put clear and honest labelling on our packaging, telling you about its recyclability.
Carrier bags
Following successful trials in Northern Ireland and South West England, in February 2008, we announced our intention to introduce a 5p charge for carrier bags in our food halls across the rest of the UK from 6th May 2008. Profits from the sale of the 5p bags, which are made from 100% post-consumer recycled polythene, will be donated to the environmental charity Groundwork who will use the money to create parks, gardens and play areas. We distributed free re-usable bags-for-life for a month before introducing the charge.
Ten weeks into the trial (24th July 2008) we had succeeded in reducing usage by 80% and raising £200,000 for Groundwork.
Clothing
At the end of January 2008 we launched the largest clothing recycling initiative in the UK. The Oxfam Clothes Exchange encourages our customers to return unwanted M&S outerwear garments to Oxfam stores in return for a discount voucher valid for a month giving £5/€7 off for use on any clothing and home purchase of £35/€50 or more in UK and Republic of Ireland stores.