In 2007, UK retailer Marks and Spencer embarked on an industry leading, five-year, 100-point 'eco' plan to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing business and our world. They have made enormous progress on their 5 core goals: Become carbon neutral, send no waste to landfill, extend sustainable sourcing, help improve the lives of people in their supply chain and help customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle. Listen to Marks and Spencer's Head of Sustainable Business, Mike Barry, who shares some of the exemplary work they’ve done to communicate their efforts to their customers and engage them in the success of Plan A, as well as discuss how these efforts are helping create deeper brand affinity.

1. Plan A
Because there is no
Plan B
Mike Barry
Marks & Spencer

2. Plan A
Because there
is no Plan B

4. 10 Business
0
Sustainability
sustainability Brand new products/services, 50%
less carbon, zero waste and value
added for people wherever we trade
All 75,000 employees “hungry” to use
sustainability to sell more, save money, Sustainable
motivate people and develop new Business
business opportunities
HWDB
Single issues
managed by team on
edge of business
Employee Plan A
Welfare All issues being systematically
addressed across supply chain,
Community CSR operations, customer use and
Investment disposal of products
Philanthropy
Time
1930s 1960s 1980s 2000 2007 2012 2015 2025 Time

6. In the press…

9. 28. The Climate Group Campaign
Biggest impact, not the most obvious,
changing behaviour

11. Lessons we’ve learnt
1. Performance and credibility first
2. Activity not words
3. Show consumers the benefits of change
4. A few big stories backed up by lots of small but
consistent underpinning messages
5. Plan A as an internal change management
platform