19th January 2007
Jury still out on Marks and Spencer's ethical plan
The 100 point plans spells out how M&S, by 2012, aim to be carbon neutral, sending no waste to landfill, sourcing sustainably, setting new standards in ethical trading and helping customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle.
M&S claims it will become a global leader in managing labour standards, but, unlike its climate change plans, the detail of what it means by this and how it will accomplish it remains unclear.
M&S does have a history of being more engaged than some other retailers with labour rights in its supply chain, but as Labour Behind the Label set out in last year's 'Let's Clean Up Fashion' report, 'global leadership' for any retailer would mean shifting up a gear to tackle issues like a living wage and trade union rights head on.
