November 3rd "You and Yours" on Radio 4 discussing issues on corporate social responsibility. This was indirectly linked to sustainable consumption, through issues raised in connection with CSR. Mike Barry of Plan A for M & S discussed how 80% of M & S customers wanted various issues to be addressed and the company felt it was necessary for that reason and also felt that such issues as dealing with waste and recycling were financially profitable. The company has a four point plan for dealing with CSR:-
climate change issues,
waste and recycling,
providing better wages for workers, (there are 2 million in the M & S supply chain,) in developing countries and
looking after the needs and expectations of their 75,000 retail workers.
Said that innovations had brought about real and sustained change and that customer expectations required that M & S be a market leader in this field.
Other small companies also phoned in, a food co-op from Manchester called Unicorn which said that its customer loyalty was dependent on its continuing "green" CSR packages, and another RBS which had a project in place where if workers gave money to charities the company tripled the donation.
Not necessarily all about sustainable consumption, but surely evidence of "Seeds of change" within the business community with regard to New Economic type innovations becoming embedded and changing lives for the better, profit not the only aim.
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As you say, positive signs. On a more frustrating note I just had a leaflet through from Breckland Council telling me the only plastic they want in the recycle bin are plastci bottles (minus the tops!). So...all those yoghurt cups and food trays with a recycle symbol on them have to go in the landfill bag?
ReplyDeleteHmm, sounds like we need a local company to see the advantages to recycling that type of plastic. There are some specialist ones such as GMS at Hevingham which recycles plastic doors, window frames and conservatory roofs. These are smashed into pellets and then sent away to be remoulded. Its costs energy in transport and in the recycling but its preferable to not doing it.
ReplyDeleteI also dont have any idea about what the emissions levels are for the factory.