Analysis of Responsible Business Practices: Marks and Spencer Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Marks and Spencer's responsible business practices. It begins with an introduction to the importance of social aspects in business and the significance of sustainable development goals (SDGs). The report then delves into Marks and Spencer's operations, focusing on clothing inventory, personal responsibility, and the criteria for purchasing clothes. It includes a life cycle assessment of garments, examining stages from design to disposal, and analyzes the company's approach to two specific SDGs: no poverty and quality education. The report evaluates the success of these goals, offering recommendations for improvement and highlighting alternative clothing habits related to SDGs. The report also provides recommendations for Marks and Spencer to contribute effectively to the SDGs, emphasizing the use of innovative technology, risk identification, and effective communication of sustainable development goals. Overall, the report provides a detailed overview of Marks and Spencer's commitment to responsible business and its efforts to achieve sustainable development goals.

Responsible business

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Personal Responsibility............................................................................................................1
Life Cycle Assessment.............................................................................................................3
Sustainable development goals..............................................................................................4
Alternative, recommendation and learning...........................................................................7
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
There are various social aspects that needs to be consider by company while
performing business practices as well as enhancing organisational task (Cohen, 2017).
Sustainability development goals are significant for providing benefits to environment,
society or communities. There are number of challenges faced United Nations
sustainable development goals which includes personal, corporate and social aspects.
Chosen company for this report is Marks and Spencer. This is well established
company is retail sector. It has business operations in different part of the globe. Marks
and Spencer company was established by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in year
1884. This report will includes information regarding inventory clothes and criteria to buy
cloths. In this description of garments has been discussed as well as life cycle
assessment has been evaluated properly. Analysis of two sustainable development
goals is mention. Apart from this various recommendations has been provided.
MAIN BODY
Personal Responsibility
Inventory of clothes
The primary role of clothing for people is to protect them and make them look
modest as well as stylish at the same time. It can also function as a reflection of the
personal taste of the person and their choice of clothing. Clothing, on the whole plays
an important role in providing comfort to the people (Bueno, 2018). The clothes of a
person speak about their personality as well as personal preference. It is important to
maintain a good inventory of clothes as it helps in increasing the overall satisfaction for
the clothes and refers to all the stock of the products that a company sells. But since
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Marks and Spencer also makes its own clothes, the materials and other items that it
uses in order to sell them are counted under its inventory. The clothing industry is one
of the fastest growing industries that is primarily aimed towards serving the customers
and satisfying their fashion and clothing needs besides matching their individual
preferences.
Clothes Journal. Why clothing is important for you. What are your criteria to buy
clothes? Clothing identity. Clothing icons and inspiration.
Clothing is important because it helps in protecting our skin as it can get easily
affected by the harmful sunrays or the rain. Clothes also serve as a safety measure
against any kind of injury or harm (Cronje, Ferreira and van Antwerpen, 2017). There
are certain sports and jobs that require the person to wear protective clothing for various
safety reasons. Clothing can act as a source of identification of a person or a group of
people. Different people have different criteria of buying clothes and these can include
the quality as well as flexibility of the fabric, matching patterns, colors, length of the
fabric etc. These criteria allow a person to make sure that they purchase the right
clothing for them. The clothing item worn by a person as well as their identity are both
linked to each other. People can take their inspiration from any clothing icon like
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Beyonce, Jenna Lyons, Jackie O, Kate Middleton etc. All these icons have different
styles and display various personalities that can inspire a person.
Life Cycle Assessment
Description of your garment.
Marks and Spencer is a leading retailer of clothing products in the United
Kingdom and has operations across various geographic regions of the world. When a
garment is designed, it undergoes various stages to become the final product that the
designers within the company had thought of it to be (Bule and Less, 2016). The
designers at Marks and Spencer make sure that all the designs of the clothes that are
made by them are in sync with the latest trends of the fashion industry and cater to the
clothing preferences of the people. The garments undergo the process of production
that involves various stages like developing designs, getting the material etc.
Life Cycle Assessment
The life cycle of a garment also involves various stages like manufacturing,
consumption by the customers and their disposable. Life cycle Assessment is one of the
ways that the company can use in order to study the environmental impact of its overall
clothing process (Nieuwenkamp, 2016). It includes extraction of raw materials, the
manufacturing and processing, transportation, usage and retail and lastly, the disposal.
This assessment helps the respective company, Marks and Spencer to analyze the
environmental impacts of a garment that is produced by it.
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For example, in order to make a women’s shirt, the company will have to extract
raw materials that would be needed to produce the same. For this, it can contact
various suppliers and get the raw material delivered that is environment friendly and
would not cause any har to it. Once this done, the company then undertakes the
manufacturing process in which the shirt is manufactured using the sustainable
materials. After the process of manufacturing, the shirt is then transported to the
different stores across the location. The company can transport the newly manufactured
shirt along with other clothing items that are manufactured. The shirts are displayed at
the retail stores along with other clothing items wherein the customers can come, take a
look and purchase it if they find it to be of their use (Cronje, Ferreira and van
Antwerpen, 2017). The consumption stage involves the customers wearing the clothing
items and finally disposing it off after using for a period of time. Therefore, this process
of a life cycle assessment helps the company to understand the impact its products
have on the environment.
Sustainable development goals
Brief description of the company
Marks and Spencer is one of the leading British multinational organisation that is
dealing in clothing industry (Parris and et.al., 2016). This organisation is designing and
developing high quality and fashionable products in order to meet with the needs of
customers. Marks and Spencer company was developed in year 1884 and founder of
this organisation is Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer. Headquarter of Marks and
Spencer company is located in London, England, UK and providing its products to large
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customer base. Marks and Spencer company is offering varity of products and
services which includes food, clothing, home products and other fashionable products.
Company approach to SDG, sustainability, ethics.
Sustainability development growth is very important part of business and it is
crucial for respective company to consider ethics and sustainability while conducting
business task. Marks and Spencer company has developed several SDG that includes
environmental improvement, social empowerment as well as greater equality (Laasch
and Conaway, 2017). Marks and Spencer is a well established company which has
positive approach towards sustainable development. Sustainability and ethics play
essential role in enhancing business practices as well as developing strong relationship
with customers. Sustainable development goals are beneficial for organisation as well
as society in which company is performing business task. The SDG goals are significant
for enhancing environment and providing benefits of society. This organisation is
carrying out business activities with ethics and moral in order to provide no harm to any
individual. Approaches to SDG of Marks and Spencer includes wellbeing of customers
by providing various food, clothing and home products in order to support more healthy
lives. Sustainable development goal of respective company includes improvement of
community and society through effective services (Grosser, McCarthy and Kilgour,
2017). Marks and Spencer SDG includes maintenance of plant and environment in
more accurate manner.
Analysis of two sustainable development goals for this particular company
Sustainable development goals can be describe as the objectives that are set by
company in order to achieve better and more sustainable future of company and
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society. It is essential for all organisations to develop sustainable development goals
and conduct effective practices in order to achieve it. These goals are beneficial for
meeting with the needs and requirement of society as well as providing better and
healthy lifestyle to all (Weaver and et.al., 2018). Marks and Spencer company is
carrying out business practices in retail sector and its major products are food, cloth and
home products. Sustainable development goals for Marks and Spencer company is
mention below –
No poverty – Marks and Spencer company needs to develop no poverty
sustainable development goals in order to reduce poverty form society. The goals of
respective organisation to enhancing living standard of people and remove poverty form
communities. In order to achieve this goals, respective company is providing living
wages to all worker of Marks and Spencer worldwide for encouraging living standards.
This company is providing free cloths and food products and services to needed people.
Quality education – This company is conducting different activities in order to
enhance the quality of education for millions of children. Marks and Spencer company
can contribute some amount of profit for the education for children in order to provide
knowledge and information (Mulaessa and Wang, 2017). This goals will help in
providing education facilities to children who cannot afford school and university fees.
Critical evaluation
Successful accomplishment of sustainable development goals will be beneficial
for community and society. Marks and Spencer company will be able to develop strong
relationship with customers and build high brand values through full filling of needs and
requirement of poor people who cannot meet their needs. Marks and Spencer company
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has developed 5 year milestone for sustainable development goals. This organisation
has developed effective and efficient plan that will help in accomplishment of
sustainable development goals (Štrukelj and Gajšt, 2019). For reducing poverty form
society and providing quality of education company has created reliable and smart
objective which can be accomplished in desired time.
Alternative, recommendation and learning
Alternatives regarding clothing habits in relation to the SDG
There are various companies which are dealing in clothing sector and providing
high quality or creative design products in order to meet with the needs and wants of
customers. My clothing habits include quality of material and design of product. I
consider cloths that suit me well and have effective manufacturing that is able to satisfy
my need and wants. My alternative clothing habits in relation to SDG includes natural
product or fibre for developing and creating product. This significant increase the usage
of cloth material and it is easy to recycling of product. Many companies are using
products such as plastic and other material which is harmful for environment and hard
to recycle. These factors are essential to move towards alternative clothing habits.
Clothing can lead to major impact on environment and affect sustainability of
surrounding (Roobeek, De and Van Der Plas, 2018). Changes in clothing habits to
correct cloths which is easy to recycle and does not have any negative impact on
environment is most effective alternative.
Recommendation for company to contribute to the SDG
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It is very important for respective company to follow United Nation sustainable
development goals and contribute effectively and efficiently in order to attain desired
goals of action (Pettigrew and Smith, 2017) There are various recommendation
mention below for respective company to contribute correctly to the sustainable
development goals.
 It is essential for company to determine capabilities and resources before setting
sustainable development goals. Identification of business potential will help in
setting correct strategies and approaches to creating sustainable development
goals.
 Marks and Spencer company needs to use innovative technology that will help in
tracking the performance and achievement of targets of sustainable development
goals. This will assist in determine what actions needs to be taken as well as
performance of respective company so far in achievement of set goals.
 This company should clearly identify and determine the risk factors that can
affect business and its activities. there are various risk elements that will lead to
impact over successfully implementation of task and achievement of desired
goals and objectives. Identification of risk will help in creating proper plan which
help in reducing risk factor.
 Marks and Spencer company should communicate sustainable development
goals in more creative and effective manner. This will help in providing
information to needed person as well as developing strong relationship with
customers.
Reflective practices
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This report is significant for increasing my knowledge and understanding about
sustainable development goals as well as its importance. My objective was to gain more
information regarding corporate and social responsibility of clothing and determine
impact of sustainable development goals on business practices. The learning form this
will be supportive for taking better decision regarding clothing habits and assist in
enhancing career practices.
I have developed various skills and knowledge through this report. My decision
making skills has been increased and I am able to take quick and effective decisions.
My knowledge about the clothing products and fabric has been increased ( Valackienė
and Micevičienė, 2015). I have gain understanding about sustainable development
goals as well as values for taking better and accurate decisions. Sustainable
development is very importance and valuable for overall growth and development of
society and communities.
My creative skills has been increased and this is one of the most effective skill that
help in conducting any task in more creative and innovative manner. This skills is
significant for developing and creating effective poster and representing data and
information in more effective manner.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that it is crucial for organisation to
consider ethics and values while conducting business activities. Clothing is very
important part of an individual and it helps in representing personality in most creative
manner. Clothing and clothing habits are important for individual and each person have
different criteria for selecting cloths. It is essential that a person is selecting cloths that
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suits well and comfortable to wear. Sustainable development goals are significant in
providing guideline and direction to companies for effective and efficiently conduct
required set of actions in most effective manner. Sustainable development goals will
help company to develop strong brand image in market area and create effective
relationship with customers. Sustainability and ethics needs to be consider by company
in order to successfully conduct business activities and enhance organisational
practices.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cohen, E., 2017. CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible
business practices. Routledge.
Parris, D.L. and et.al., 2016. Exploring transparency: a new framework for responsible
business management. Management Decision.
Laasch, O. and Conaway, R., 2017. Responsible business: The textbook for
management learning, competence and innovation. Routledge.
Grosser, K., McCarthy, L. and Kilgour, M.A. eds., 2017. Gender equality and
responsible business: Expanding CSR horizons. Routledge.
Mulaessa, N. and Wang, H., 2017. The effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR)
activities on consumers purchase intention in China: Mediating role of consumer
support for responsible business. International Journal of Marketing Studies, 9(1),
pp.73-81.
Weaver, M.W., and et.al., 2018. A systems approach to understanding the perspectives
in the changing landscape of responsible business in Scotland. European Journal of
Operational Research, 268(3), pp.1149-1167.
Štrukelj, T. and Gajšt, N., 2019. Indispensability of socially responsible business policy.
In Corporate social responsibility in the manufacturing and services sectors (pp. 93-
125). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Roobeek, A., De Swart, J. and Van Der Plas, M., 2018. Responsible Business: Making
Strategic Decisions to Benefit People, the Planet and Profits. Kogan Page Publishers.
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Pettigrew, W.A. and Smith, D.C. eds., 2017. A History of Socially Responsible
Business, C. 1600-1950. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Valackienė, A. and Micevičienė, D., 2015. Promoting socially responsible business at
enterprise level: theoretical approach. Journal of Business Economics and
Management, 16(3), pp.558-570.
Bueno, N., 2018. The Swiss Responsible Business Initiative and its counter-proposal:
Texts and current developments.
Cronje, L., Ferreira, E.J. and van Antwerpen, S., 2017. Responsible business practices:
Aspects influencing decision-making in small, medium and micro-sized
enterprises. African Journal of Business Ethics, 11(1).
Bule, T. and Less, C.T., 2016. Promoting sustainable development through responsible
business conduct.
Nieuwenkamp, R., 2016. Legislation on responsible business conduct must reinforce
the wheel, not reinvent it.
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