What is CSR?
Corporate Social Responsibility is a way of working that encourages companies to operate in ways that have a positive impact on society and the environment. It’s also sometimes called an Environmental, Social and Governance programme, or ESG.
The images in this resource represent a snapshot of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability at M&S. Some of the highlights are listed below and you can find a link to full timeline in the External Links section.
M&S is always striving to do the right thing. New sustainable initiatives, partnerships and ways of working are evolving all the time – find the latest news in the Press Release section of the corporate website.
1880s - Michael Marks provided gas rings for market stall staff to heat food, and wooden boarding to stand on to stop their feet getting cold.
1930s – M&S established an employee welfare programme. This included staff canteens and subsidised holidays, as well as health care services such as doctors, dentists and chiropodists – all revolutionary at the time in pre-NHS Britain.
1939-1941 – M&S contributed to the war effort in a number of different ways, including raising money to purchase a Spitfire plane. Find out more in our M&S and the War Effort story.
1965 - M&S introduced free cancer screening for female staff. Screening was not yet available on the NHS.
1997 - M&S became the first major British retailer to supply only free-range eggs.
2004 - Marks & Start was launched; a work experience programme which helps people who are unemployed get into work. Over 10,000 work experience placements were taken up and the scheme continues to run every year.
2006 - By 2006 all tea and coffee sold at M&S was Fair Trade.
2007 - Plan A launched, this was 100 ethical and environmental commitments that M&S planned to achieve in five years. It was called Plan A ‘because when it comes to saving the planet there is no Plan B’.
2016 – M&S partnered with charity Neighbourly to donate unsold food from stores to local communities, helping charities such as food banks, community centres, community cafes, and hospices.
2021 - Plan A was reset with the aim of M&S becoming a net zero business by 2040. Net zero means a company doesn’t add any more greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere than they take out of it.
2023 – M&S launched a new charity partnership with Young Minds to raise awareness of the help available to young people struggling with their mental health. M&S started the partnership with a £1 million donation, with the aim of raising £5 million over the next three years.
Glossary
Subsidised – paying part of the cost to keep the price to the customer low
Chiropodist – a person who treats health problems to do with the feet