M&S signs up to UNICEF carbon offset project

British high street stalwart Marks & Spencer (M&S) has become the first major company to sign up to UNICEF’s new carbon offset project.

This initiative is aimed at improving the health and lives of vulnerable children while cutting carbon emissions that cause climate change.

M&S will kick start the project in early 2014 by providing funds for 40,000 fuel efficient, low pollution cook stoves to be manufactured, sold and maintained by local entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.

The new stoves are 50 per cent more fuel efficient than traditional stoves, producing one tonne less carbon emissions each year. The new stoves will be used by low income families from over 2,000 villages across Bangladesh. Over 150 new jobs will be created as local people will be trained to manufacture, market and install the stoves.

Jonathan Porritt, co-founder of Forum for the Future commented: “M&S led the world in becoming the first major retailer to go carbon neutral and has now reinforced that leadership by supporting UNICEF’s new carbon offset project in Bangladesh. This ticks literally all the boxes in terms of improved health, local economic benefits and reduced emissions of CO2. I sincerely hope that others will follow swiftly in their path.”

The project aims to qualify for ‘The Gold Standard’ carbon credit certification. The move by M&S is part of its Plan A (M&S’s eco and ethical programme) commitment to be a carbon neutral company.