The Climate Group and CDP today announced that one of the world’s leading retailers has joined RE100, a global initiative supporting major companies committing to 100% renewable power.
Marks and Spencer (M&S), a retailer of food, clothing and home products listed on the London Stock Exchange with over 1,300 stores worldwide, joins 18 other leading businesses from around the world taking part in the RE100 initiative. Since the launch of its ethical and 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
Now it will take part in RE100, as it continues to procure a 100% renewable green tariff electricity in the UK and ROI.
Speaking about the decision to join RE100, Mike Barry, Director of Sustainable Business Plan A at Marks & Spencer 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 per cent 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.”
Today’s move comes as Mr Barry speaks to global business leaders gathering at the Business & Climate Summit, the principal event of Climate Week Paris.
Earlier this week consumer goods company Unilever and India’s largest Informational Technology firm Infosys also made RE100 commitments to using 100 per cent renewable power.
RE100 is a global initiative that supports major companies committed to 100% renewable power across their operations. Now 19 of the world’s most influential companies have joined RE100 and made a public commitment to going 100% renewable: BT Group, Commerzbank, Elion Resources Group, Formula E, H&M, Infosys, IKEA, KPN, Mars, M&S, Nestlé, Philips, Reed Elsevier Group, J. Safra Sarasin Bank, SAP, SGS, Swiss Re, Unilever, YOOX Group.