Image credit: Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer

Rated: It's a start

price:
$$$$

location: United Kingdom

Marks & Spencer is not taking adequate steps to ensure payment of a living wage for its workers.

Marks & Spencer sustainability rating

Planet

3 out of 5

People

2 out of 5

Animals

3 out of 5

Overall rating: It's a start

Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We avoid) to 5 (Great) How we rate


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.
  • There’s no evidence it’s taking meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals in 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 “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

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 Freedoms of animal welfare but no clear implementation mechanisms in place.
  • It appears to use leather, exotic animal hair, and silk.
  • Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it sources.
  • Responsible Down Standard certifies the down it uses.
  • It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, or exotic animal skin.
  • It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.

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

Last updated January 2024