A group of 70 global retailers have agreed upon a historic and legally-binding plan to conduct inspections of garment facilities in Bangladesh in an attempt to improve safety standards, following the collapse of a factory in the country earlier this year which killed more than 1,100 people. The code requires participating retailers not just to meet minimum fire and building safety standards, but also to pay for them. Sweden’s H&M, the largest buyer of Bangladeshi-made clothes, signed up to the code after the incident, as have Inditex, Benetton, Metro, Carrefour, Marks and Spencer and Tesco. (BBC)
Strategy
Plan A must be woven into the fabric of our brand, says Marks and Spencer chief
The CEO of UK retailer Marks and Spencer, Marc Bolland, will be persuading shareholders at the annual general meeting on Tuesday 9 July that the Plan A social and environmental plan, with its emphasis on cutting waste, saving energy, trading fairly and animal welfare, remains integral to the rebirth of the company. Despite two successive years of declining profits, Bolland is firm about the long-term strategy of Plan A: “for this company to stay in the hearts and minds of customers, shareholders and all stakeholders, the brand needs to be built around trust and Plan A builds strongly builds around trust”. Food and labour sourcing issues have had a major impact on the news headlines this year. Bolland suggests that Marks and Spencer has avoided these issues because of the strong sourcing policies of Plan A. (The Guardian)
Research
Three-quarters of Europeans willing to pay more for eco-products
Almost 80 per cent of European citizens are willing to pay more for environmentally-friendly products, according to a survey by the European Commission. The survey reveals that respondents will pay more if they are confident that the products they purchase are genuinely environmentally-friendly. However the survey also shows that nearly half of EU citizens do not feel that they are well informed of the environmental impacts of the products they purchase. Environment Commissioner Janez Poto?nik said “This survey shows that most of us are confused by green claims and don’t trust them…We are working with companies and other stakeholders to develop the credible information consumers are looking for when they buy products. This will help develop markets and open up opportunities for innovation and investment in the green economy.” (Edie)
Environment
Panasonic leads e-waste recycling programme in Singapore
Electronics conglomerate Panasonic Asia Pacific has launched a new programme for recycling home appliances and electronic waste in Singapore. This six month pilot project is Panasonic’s latest strategy for addressing the harmful effects of electronic waste. Named the Heartland E-waste Recycling Programme, this pilot project is in partnership with the South East Community Development Council (CDC), National Environment Agency (NEA), electronics retailer Best Denki, e-waste recycler Cimelia and public waste collector SembWaste, to provide an integrated and convenient recycling platform covering different environmental actors from local communities to Singapore-based retailers. Through this initiative, Panasonic is aiming to raise awareness of the issue of electronic waste as well as encourage and facilitate increased levels of recycling. (Eco-Business)
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