M&S joins 100% renewable energy initiative

The initiative – which already features high profile signatories such as BT, Ikea and Mars – aims to help major companies source 100% renewable power.

M&S said it hopes its commitment inspires other companies to embrace renewable energy.

Since the launch of its environmental ‘Plan A’ in 2007, M&S has lowered its carbon emissions by 19% and has become carbon neutral across its worldwide operations.

It has a target to improve its UK and ROI energy efficiency by 50% by 2020 and to source 50% of its gas from certified green bio-methane sources.

M&S director of Plan A Mike Barry – who is speaking at the Business and Climate Summit in Paris this week – said: “Tackling climate change is critical for our business, and for all businesses.

“We developed Plan A with this in mind – which includes a commitment to sourcing 100% of our directly procured UK and ROI electricity from renewable sources.

“Joining RE100 gives us an opportunity to share what we have learned and encourage other businesses to switch to renewable energy.”

Earlier this week consumer goods company Unilever and India’s largest IT firm Infosys also made RE100 commitments to using 100% renewable power.

Commercial impact

For M&S, the commitment may not have a huge impact on its energy policy – because it has a pre-existing commitment to source 100% renewable energy.

The retailer’s head of energy supply recently told edie: “There is no excuse for organisations not to buy green electricity.”

He added “If a business wants a renewable supply agreement for electricity, the market is not pricing in a green premium above and beyond Climate Change Levy (CCL).

“It doesn’t make a difference in terms of cost – whether you have a brown or green supply agreement, the cost is the same.”

M&S also recently launched an ambitious behaviour change programme, to help it reach its efficiency targets.

The full list of RE100 signatories 

BT

Commerzbank

Formula E

H&M

Ikea

Infosys

KPN

M&S

Mars

Nestle

Philips

Reed Elsevier

SAP

Sarasin

SGS

Swiss Re

Unilever

YOOX Group

Brad Allen