Monday 3 September 2007

Marks & Spencer will work with WWF on environmental projects in its agricultural supply chain as it looks to increase its sourcing of sustainable raw materials. WWF will also support M&S in its efforts to help customers and staff take action to reduce their individual carbon footprint, including through the WWF's Footprint Calculator, which is available at www.marksandspencer.com/PlanA. The retailer will also help to fund WWF's conservation projects in Borneo and the north-east Atlantic.

"We are taking bold action already within our own business, although we have a long way to go. We have also promised to reach out to our customers, our staff and our suppliers to help them to take action to reduce their own environmental impact. We have already made some real inroads here, but we are delighted that we can now accelerate this process with expert support and advice from WWF," said Stuart Rose, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer.

WWF-UK Chief Executive, David Nussbaum added: "Agriculture and the production of food and textiles are where our human ecological footprint is at its greatest. So we are delighted to have strengthened our relationship with Marks & Spencer to help us drive better practices in this sector.

"This partnership will address some of the most significant environmental challenges on the high street today and Marks & Spencer once again is showing itself to be at the cutting edge of environmental retailing."