M&S

M&S is proud to be among the sponsors of the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon. This environmentally friendly and health-promoting event is a great match for the way M&S does business.

We call our way of working Plan A and it’s about tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our world. We’ve now set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable major retailer by 2015.

During the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon, we’ll be helping to keep runners hydrated by handing out specially designed bottles of water. When the race is over, we’ll collect the empties and send them to Closed Loop’s recycling plant in Dagenham, where they’ll be recycled into food-grade plastic flakes that will be used to make new food packaging.

We’ll also be providing runners with Fairtrade bananas. Not only will they give an energy boost to the hard-working athletes, but, like all Fairtrade products, they’ll help small-scale farmers and farm workers in developing countries to improve their lives and their communities.

Finally, and in support of our shopping initiative, any discarded race clothing along the route will be collected and donated to Oxfam, raising much needed funds to help them fight poverty.

To find out more about Plan A, visit www.marksandspencer.com/PlanA