As an own-brand retailer, we have a fantastic network of trusted supplier partners, and we work with them to find innovative, new and better ways of doing things – whether it’s helping to reduce emissions, cutting out waste, supporting people in our supply chain, sourcing more responsible fabrics or respecting animal welfare.
We are committed to sourcing 100% of our priority raw materials more responsibly by 2025 – this includes polyester and man-made cellulosic fibres. In 2019, we achieved our goal of sourcing 100% responsibly produced cotton for our clothing.
Our comprehensive policies, codes of practice and guidelines are publicly available on our corporate website. They ensure we deliver products to our customers that are safe, legal, high quality and produced with integrity.
RECYCLED POLYESTER
Versatile, durable and quick-drying, polyester is used in a wide range of our products, from sportswear to schoolwear. But, as it’s a synthetic fibre derived from crude oil, using polyester also presents environmental challenges.
Recycled polyester is a more sustainable option because using it avoids the extraction of new resources and the need for energy-intensive processing. So we’ve pledged to replace all the virgin polyester in our products with 100% verified recycled polyester by the end of 2025.
MAN-MADE FABRICS
Fibres like viscose, lyocell and modal – known as man-made cellulosic fibres, or MMCFs – are usually made from wood pulp. While trees are a renewable resource, deforestation is a serious global issue that we’re determined to tackle.
We source our MMCFs from partners who meet our strict standards on sustainable sourcing and chemical use. By the end of 2025, we’ll be tightening those standards even further, and buying only MMCFs with the highest environmental credentials.
We’re always on the lookout for innovative new fibres that reduce our reliance on forests. That’s why we’re increasing our use of next-generation cellulosic fibres, produced with alternative raw materials such as textile waste or agricultural by-products, in our clothing.
COTTON COMMITMENT
From crisp dress shirts to wear-anywhere T-shirts, it’s hard to find a more versatile fabric than cotton. But, depending on where and how it’s farmed, growing cotton can use a lot of water, as well as chemical fertilisers and pesticides that risk the health of workers and damage local ecosystems.
Since 2019, we’ve sourced 100% of the cotton for our clothing responsibly. That means that the cotton we buy is part of the Better Cotton programme, is organic or is recycled. The Better Cotton programme empowers farmers to use water efficiently, care for soil health and promote biodiversity.
We’re also looking to increase our use of organic and recycled cotton across M&S clothing ranges. Our best-known 100% organic cotton range is M&S babywear, which is grown without chemical pesticides, helps protect the environment and supports the welfare of workers.
ANIMAL-DERIVED MATERIALS
Whether it’s a cashmere jumper, leather bag or feather and down coat, rest assured that all the materials we use in our products have been responsibly sourced to the highest animal welfare standards.
Warm, super-soft and now responsibly sourced, the new pure cashmere products in our 2022 autumn/winter collection will be certified by the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), which supports the livelihoods of herders, promotes high animal welfare standards and reduces environmental impact.
When it comes to leather, we don’t follow the herd. 90% of our leather comes from tanneries certified to the Leather Working Group, which strives to reduce environmental impacts. That’s an increase of 24% since 2020.
