M&S commits to full supply chain traceability on non-food products
Green supply chain news – by GreenWise staff
4th August 2011
As part of its plan to become the most sustainable major retailer, Marks and Spencer today committed to tracing where and how every product in its clothing and home range is made.
M&S said it had signed a deal with
supply chain traceability specialist
Historic Futures that will enable the company to identify "every raw material source, spinner and fabric mill" on every single clothing and home product it sells. The agreement is the latest in a line of commitments made by the retailer under its
Plan A sustainability programme and positions M&S as the first major retailer to commit to full traceability for non-food products.
"Full traceability will give us even greater ability to differentiate M&S products from our competitors," Mark Sumner, Sustainable Raw Material specialist at M&S, said.
String service
Through its specifically designed traceability service 'String’, Historic Futures will work with M&S to collect information from the retailer’s supply chain. Every product will be traced, starting this year with M&S kidswear.
For a cotton t-shirt, for example, information will be collected on where the cotton is grown, the yarn is spun, the fabric is produced, the fabric is dyed, to finally, where it is manufactured.
"Most retailers can only pinpoint the manufacturer of their products and some, who buy through third parties, cannot even go to that level," commented Sumner. He said the measure would give M&S "stronger connections" with its entire supply chain, as well as more marketing power and improved trust with its customers.
Tim Wilson, managing director of Historic Futures, said full supply chain traceability was "fast becoming essential in today’s marketplace" due to increasing scrutiny from consumers, environmental rules and volatile markets for raw materials.
"This deal clearly identifies M&S as world leaders and demonstrates their commitment to quality and to the Plan A programme," he added.
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