UK retailer Marks & Spencer has announced its commitment to sponsor "innovative, collaborative projects" with a £1 million contribution as part of its larger goal to achieve net zero status by 2040. Through the Plan A Accelerator Fund, M&S aims to collaborate with both new and existing suppliers to rapidly progress towards achieving net zero emissions. One of the initial projects funded by this scheme involves trialing a fiber-to-fiber recycling method in Oxfam stores, marking a pioneering initiative according to M&S.

In addition to donating wearable apparel, customers will be encouraged to donate unwanted clothing to the charity. Unwearable items will undergo cleaning and repurposing to create new materials.

The UK Fashion and Textile Association is spearheading the ACT Textile Waste Project, which encompasses this trial. The project aims to establish an automated sorting and processing facility in the UK to replace manual sorting of worn clothing.

M&S anticipates that its initiatives will divert clothing from landfills and foster a circular fashion industry. Another project will utilize AI to optimize temperature settings for air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems in six M&S stores, with potential annual savings of up to 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and £3 million.

CEO Stuart Machin expressed enthusiasm for leveraging innovation to address climate change, stating, "By harnessing our innovative spirit and collaborating with our suppliers, we can accelerate our journey to becoming a net zero business by 2040. These small changes have the potential to make a significant impact on some of the most pressing climate challenges we face."