Retailer Marks & Spencer has announced it has transitioned all its men’s socks, men’s woven pyjama sets, and selected men’s underwear to paper packaging, a move which will eliminate some 5.5 million units of plastic from its supply chain over the next 12 months.
The products are now packaged in recyclable, FSC-approved paper with paper hooks, facilitating ease of recycling at home.
Pending trials that are currently underway, M&S plans to expand the use of paper packaging across more men’s clothing products, which would have the potential to remove an additional 3.5 million plastic units from the supply chain.
‘Do the right thing’
“We know we have a responsibility to do the right thing when it comes to our packaging by reducing unnecessary plastic,” commented Katharine Beacham, head of sustainability in Clothing & Home at M&S. “This one small change to our men’s essentials range will make a huge difference by removing over five million units of plastic from our supply chain.
“It also gives our customers the confidence to make more sustainable choices more easily when they shop with us, and trust that the M&S quality products they love are made, sourced and packaged with care.”
Reducing plastic packaging at scale
Marks & Spencer sells approximately 20 million pairs of men’s socks annually, with this initiative forming part of the retailer’s ongoing drive to reduce plastic packaging at scale.
A 2023 initiative saw the retailer trial the use of paper packaging with paper hooks for items such as hats, gloves and scarves, which resulted in the elimination of more than four million units of plastic.
This packaging transition is part of the UK retailer’s broader Plan A commitment to become a net zero business across its entire value chain by 2040. Read more here.
