Almost 30 per cent of the cotton used by Marks & Spencer is grown to Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) standards. These products include underwear, school uniform, dresses and bedding. The Better Cotton program covers environmental, social and economic criteria, and is said to earn for the farmer by reducing input costs and helping them manage crops better.

In addition, 7,000 workers from M&S suppliers and their local communities in Kenya and South Africa have taken part in the ‘Emerging Leaders’ training program which takes place in factories, farms, and in local communities, with the support of M&S suppliers. The training aims to give participants the skills to take charge of their own situation, encouraging them to start entrepreneurial projects in the workplace, at home or in their own communities.

There is also a scheme by which customers can donate used or unwanted items of clothing when they shop at an M&S store. The clothes are then collected and distributed to a local charity for recycling, re-use, or re-sale. The clothes exchange program has been launched in 20 M&S stores in the Czech Republic and 17 stores in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile Marks & Spencer is examining the potential for sourcing from Myanmar. Gap and H&M are so far the only two apparel retailers to have gone on record as saying they are sourcing from Myanmar. However concerns have been raised in some quarters about human rights abuses as well as social and environmental issues in the country’s garment manufacturing sector. Child labor is also a major concern in Myanmar.

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