M&S Unveils Innovation Projects to Hit Net Zero By 2040

M&S has unveiled a series of innovation projects to support its journey to becoming net zero by 2040.

The food and fashion giant said that it had a “clear glidepath” to meeting its target across its entire supply chain, which it had previously flagged as its biggest challenge in its quest for net zero by 2040.

The retailer revealed it was investing £1m into funding key projects this year that look at innovative ways to lower its emissions from agriculture.

This includes a trial of combining AI technology with bumble bees through precision pollination to grow larger, better quality British strawberries.

The technique involves four farms using smart listening technology to monitor bumble bee activity to enable them to take targeted nature-friendly action to support pollination in areas where levels are lower, such as introducing more bees.

M&S said that the farms trialling the technique had seen bee activity almost double, improving consistency and leading to an even spread of strawberries across its trial area.

Another of the retailer’s food projects seeks to test a circular approach to finding improved uses for waste from its agriculture, using high-quality biochar on its chicken farms.

Its “chickenchar” trial is set to mix a high-quality biochar into the bedding material in its chicken sheds to reduce ammonia emissions in housing and potentially improve retention of phosphates from its chicken manure.

The retailer noted that the trial could help promote better animal welfare, limit pollution, and improve the effectiveness of organic fertilisers.

Further projects at the supermarket are set to focus on measuring the methane output of its progeny Aberdeen Angus cows, growing net zero wheat for potential use in animal feed and bakery products, and trialling new technology to drive energy efficiency in stores.

M&S corporate affairs and ESG director Victoria McKenzie-Gould said: “M&S’ success as an own-brand retailer is borne from deep relationships with our supplier partners which supports a long-term approach to investment in innovation and quality, and a shared belief in the value of doing the right thing.

“This same approach is helping us to become a net zero business by 2040 through our annual £1m plan A accelerator fund with which we fund new and small-scale or untested solutions in collaboration with our supply base.”

M&S joins Waitrose in ramping up its environmental efforts, with the upmarket supermarket announcing plans to open its first distribution centre in the South West last week under a multi-million pound investment aimed at supporting its regional growth and sustainability goals.

The grocer’s site at Mountpark’s Bristol 360 development is set to be operational by the end of 2026, and will make deliveries to around 50 of its existing stores.

Source: Agritech Future