Corporate Social Responsibility Report: Marks and Spencer Case Study

This report provides an in-depth analysis of Marks and Spencer's (M&S) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. It begins with an introduction to CSR and its importance, followed by an overview of M&S and its commitment to CSR, particularly through its 'Plan A' strategy. The report examines M&S's ranking in the retail industry concerning CSR and details specific examples of the company's actions, including waste management, sustainable raw material sourcing, and initiatives related to climate change and employee/consumer health. The report also explores how CSR influences consumer purchasing power, including product evaluation, consumer awareness, loyalty, and ethical behavior. Furthermore, it discusses the relevance of CSR in the current business environment for M&S, highlighting its impact on public image, employee engagement, and competitive advantages. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the significance of CSR for M&S's growth and success.

CORPORATE SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................3
Summary and Rational ...............................................................................................................3
Ranking to CSR with company ..................................................................................................3
Specific example of corporate actions .......................................................................................4
CSR influences purchasing power of consumers .......................................................................6
CSR relevant in current business environment...........................................................................7
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is essential to any company for growth and success
of business. The present report is in context to Marks and Spencer which is a multinational retail
company. Furthermore, the report will examine the extent to which the chosen organisation
focuses on corporate social responsibility analysing company’s action with regards to the same.
In addition to this, the impact of CSR approach of Marks and Spencer on purchasing decisions of
the customers will be also examined in this study.
TASK 2
Summary and Rational
Marks & Spencer group plc is one of the leading British multinational retailers in the
world. The company is headquartered in Westminster, London that is specialized in selling home
products, clothing & luxury food products. It is also listed on the London stock exchange. Marks
and Spencer was established in the year 1884 by Thomas Spencer and Michael Marks in Leeds.
The organisation started to sell branded items such as Kellogg's corn flakes in the year 2008. The
company presently has more than 980 stores all around the United Kingdom, it has more than
600 stores that deals only in food products. In the year 1998, Marks and Spencer became the first
British retailer to earn a pre-tax profit of over £1 billion. The company has employed more than
85,000 employees in different countries. The current net income of the company is
approximately £115.7 million. The reason for choosing this organisation is that Marks and
Spencer is highly focused on fulfilling their corporate social responsibility, it has recently
launched PLAN A. It is a strategy which assist the company to develop a sustainable future by
becoming a business enabling customers to have a positive impact on well-being, the planet and
communities through the organisation activities (Jamali and Karam, 2018). Marks and Spencer
uses various effective CSR strategies or approaches that will be helpful in analysing the
importance of social responsibilities and its impact on purchase decisions of the customers.
Ranking to CSR with company
The rank of Marks and Spencer is 55 with regard to corporate social responsibility in the
retail industry. The score of M&S in CSR that is 73.2 in 2016. Therefore, company has always
taken accountabilities to consumers, workers, partners, suppliers severely. Firm is accountable

for way to supports their value, quality, services, innovation and trust. It is necessary to manager
social, environment and ethical issues across business by M&S.
Nowadays, company is highly pickings attention of every delicate content of society
which involves charity, climate change, industrialized waste management, property raw material
management, well-being people and moral trading. In this context, company has strong trading
relationship across the worldwide (Albuquerque, Koskinen and Zhang, 2018).
Ethical Trading:
It is the secular company embracing all the cultures, nationalities, values, race, religious
etc. Company does not align to any nations, states, government and political parties. CSR
concept is practical systematically to source all of their goods. The beginning of M&S from over
70 nations across the world involving China, India, Ireland, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Turkey as well
ass UK. It always clearly brands which nation all the goods are made in to giver consumers. In
this context, company developed set of Global Sourcing Principles in partnership with their
suppliers (Moon, and Knudsen, 2018). These values set down their needs for suppliers to follow
with all relevant localized and nationalized regulations on working conditions, health and safety,
employment at minimum age in the firm.
They are also focused on labelling of all goods with the nation of manufacturing and
further info about raw material of food products. It is specific concept for large scale retailers. It
refers to that consumers have important info, if they require avoiding produce goods in certain
nation, because of political and social values (CSR Activities in M&S, 2018). M&S expects from
suppliers to modify working situations in line with more demanding standards promoted through
Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). It is cooperative unit of firms, trade unions and human rights
which is established by government. Company have attached to improve lives of hundreds
thousands of people in their supply chain as part of Plan A that is five year eco-plan. Firm is
working on following such as raising number of people which is based on in production of
nations to follow up concern for determining by their assessment system with in 12 months (Cui
and Na, 2018).
Specific example of corporate actions
M&S is highly focused on corporate social responsibility for their growth and success
across the world. In this context, company contributes in different CSR activities such as

industrial waste administration, climate change, sustainable raw material, health and welfare of
employees as well as consumers etc.
Waste Management:
It is the major activity included in CSR in which M&S contribute in it. As the portion of
Plan A, five year 'eco plan', company have attached to stop causing waste to landfill from their
UK and Irish Stores, offices and warehouses for reduce the utilization of packaging and carrier
bags (Kim, Kim and Qian, 2018). Also, they usage to produce green energy through anaerobic
chemical change as well as decrease non-glass promotion by 25% as well as utilise packaging
materials which are easy to recycle or compost. M&S also cut carrier bag by 33% and make
them from recycled plastic.
Sustainable Raw Material:
It is also CSR activity in which M&S have highly committed as portion of Plan A, fiver
year eco plan. In this action, company assure that all of important raw material come from
sustainable sources available for that (Crowther and Seifi, eds., 2018). The purpose of company
is to use only wood that is recycled and severally certified, making fresh whole turkey, geese and
pork free range, triple sales of organic meal and utilization recycled plastic to prepare ranges of
polyesters clothing and home products etc.
Climate Change:
M&S have committed to make transactions in UK as well as Republic of Ireland carbon
neutral as well as to aid consumer as well as suppliers reduce their emissions as part of Plan A,
fiver year 'eco plan'. It involves decrease energy utilise by 25% and power stores with green
electricity only offsetting their remaining CO2 discharge as last resort and evolve low carbon
goods and services like energy efficient electrical goods which assist consumer reduce energy in
their homes.
Health and Welfare:
M&S have also committed in health and welfare of employees and consumers as portion
of Plan A, five year 'eco plan'. It involves increase Eat Well scope from 30% to 50% of food and
continue to lead way in decreasing salt and fats (Jamali and Karam, 2018). Also, company are
committed to aid their employees create advised health choices at workplace.

CSR influences purchasing power of consumers
CSR is the activities carried out by the organization that not only contribute to society but
also effect on buying power of customers. Corporate Social Responsibility influence consumer
behaviour and purchasing decisions towards products and services of M&S. There are many
aspects such as purchase intent, product evaluation, its selection and suggestion of brand of firm.
In this context, CSR also influence on purchasing decisions of new products (Albuquerque,
Koskinen and Zhang, 2018). If there is no awareness about CSR to consumer, so that it is also
influenced their purchasing decisions for goods and services. Corporate Social Responsibility is
about combination of values, behaviour with expectation of M&S from different stakeholder
such as suppliers, employees, consumers, shareholder and society at large level. There are
impacts of CSR on consumer behaviour such as:
Product evaluation:
CSR positive influence on product evaluation by consumers and their behaviour. This
kind of movement mainly integrated in environmental issues but also extends to animal welfare,
human rights and labour working in the M&S. This kind of positive product and brand
valuations, brand select and suggestion which is positive influence on consumer behaviour
towards the M&S.
Consumer Awareness:
The lack of awareness about CSR which is highly influenced on purchasing decisions
and behaviour of consumers. It is also called ethical consumerisms which involves trade off
within traditional basis like price, quality, comfortableness, lack of information etc (Moon and
Knudsen, 2018). These factors involve CSR which effect on purchasing decisions of consumer
towards products and services of M&S.
Consumer Loyalty:
CSR activities are highly influenced consumer loyalty towards M&S and its products and
services. If the firm has highly attention on corporate social responsibility, so that it increase
customer loyalty to their company. If the company is contributing in environmental protection
and charity which can positive impact on consumer buying behaviour and purchasing decisions
towards their goods and services.
Ethical Behaviour of firm:

CSR activity involve ethical behaviour of company which is influenced on buying
behaviour and purchasing decisions of consumer. Ethical behaviour of company involves
dignity, equality, honesty, individual right etc. that are directly impact on purchasing decisions of
consumers towards products and services of M&S.
Therefore, these kinds of CSR factors are highly influenced on attitude, behaviour of
consumer and their purchasing decisions towards goods and services of M&S (Cui, Jo and Na,
2018). Thus, company needs to focus on corporate social responsibility actions for their
increasing their consumers loyalty.
CSR relevant in current business environment
Corporate Social Responsibility is wider term utilised to report efforts to improve society
in different ways. These efforts can range from donating money to non-profit to applying
environmentally friendly policies in the business. CSR is more relevant in current environment
of Marks and Spencer in various manners. These includes:
Improving Image of Public:
With CSR, M&S improve image of consumer or public through giving high quality
product and services. Also, they can improve their public image through helping monetary
donations, in-kind donations of product and services and strong partnerships. M&S raise their
opportunities of becoming favourable in the eyes of consumers (Kim, Kim and Qian, 2018).
They are also contributed in improve health and welfare of their consumers. This can help to
increase consumer loyalty towards products and services of M&S. If the firm has highly focused
on CSR, so that buying behaviour and power of consumers has increased which help to raise
sales of firm.
Boosts Employee Engagement:
CSR is relevant in current business environment in which M&S highly focus on welfare
and benefits of employees in the workplace. With CSR, boosts employees engagement and build
relations with company. Happy employees almost always equal better result in the firm. In this
context, company needs to pay attention on pay, benefits, rewards and welfare of employees in
the business. With this, workers are more engaged in every activity of business. Therefore, M&S
highly focus on productivity and efficiency of their workers.
Increase Competitive Advantages:

CSR is relevant in current business environment in relation to increase competitive
advantage in the market. Effective employees, environmental concern, health and welfare aid to
increase consumer loyalty, sales and profits of M&S. Also, this assist to beat competition in the
marketplace. Therefore, company needs to focus on CSR activities which involves ethical
trading, health and welfare of employees and customers that help to increase purchasing
decisions and improving their behaviour towards products and services.
Therefore, corporate social responsibility is more relevant in current business
environment of M&S in relation to growth and success of business in retail industry.
CONCLUSION
The study also identified that the company is highly focused on its corporate social
responsibility that also affects consumer’s purchasing decisions. There are various approaches
and strategies related to CSR which are used by Marks and Spencer which are also discussed in
this report.

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Online
CSR Activities in M&S. 2018. [Online]. Available through :
<http://fashiongear.fibre2fashion.com/brand-story/mands/corporate.asp>.