Marks & Spencer

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Marks & Spencer “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It uses some lower-impact materials including recycled materials.
• It takes action to reduce process greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
• There’s no evidence it’s taking actions to protect biodiversity in its supply chain.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Marks & Spencer “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• More than half its final production stage is certified by [SMETA].
• It has initiatives to empower vulnerable women and girls in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
• There’s no evidence it supports diversity and inclusion in its supply chain.
• During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it disclosed adequate policies to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Marks & Spencer “It’s a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It has a formal policy aligned with the [Five Domains] of animal welfare.
• It appears to use leather, shearling, wool, down, and exotic animal hair.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
• It states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Marks & Spencer “It’s a Start” overall.