12.05.2007 - 10:00am ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 5, 2007 – The World Environment Center's (WEC) Twenty-Fourth Annual Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development has been awarded to Marks & Spencer for linking sustainability extensively with its supply chain, operations, and customers.

Marks & Spencer's Signature Contribution, known as Plan A, was cited by the independent international Gold Medal Jury as an extraordinary and successful model of sustainability practice. Plan A is a 100-point five year sustainable development program, covering all aspects of Marks & Spencer's business. Through it, the UK retailer aims to become carbon neutral and send no waste to landfill from its own operations; extend sustainable sourcing; set new standards in ethical trading and help its customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle.

Stuart Rose, Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer said: "We are delighted to receive this prestigious award. Our customers, shareholders and employees have also embraced our Plan A ambitions, and it's now how we do business. While we still have a long way to go and face many more challenges ahead, we are making good progress and this recognition will provide even more motivation for our teams as we continue to deliver our plan."

"Marks & Spencer's firm commitment and innovative practices to improve the social, environmental and economic impacts for communities around the world is remarkable" said Gold Medal Jury Chairman Dr. Joel Abrams, Professor Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh.

The WEC Gold Medal Award will be presented to Marks & Spencer at the 24th Gold Medal Presentation gala on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. Mr. Rose will accept the award on behalf of the company and its employees.

The World Environment Center Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development was established in 1985 to recognize preeminent industry leadership initiatives and contributions to worldwide environmental excellence and sustainable development.

The WEC Gold Medal Jury is independent of the WEC and its programs, and is composed of international leaders from academia, government, and non-governmental organizations and retired industry professionals. A complete list of Jury members, the Citation for the 2008 WEC Gold Medal Awardee, and a list of previous recipients are available at the WEC website: http://www.wec.org/main/programs-initiatives/gold-medal.

About Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer is one of the UK's leading retailers, with 16 million people visiting its stores each week. It offers clothing, home and food products, employs over 75,000 people. It has more than 600 UK stores, as well as an expanding international business with over 250 stores in 36 countries.

About World Environment Center

The World Environment Center (WEC) is an independent, non-profit, non-advocacy organization whose mission is to advance sustainable development through the business practices of its member companies in partnership with government and other stakeholders. WEC's activities and operations are global in scope, and it is unique in providing direct, on-the-ground support to companies to improve their performance, and that of their business partners, across the value chain.

Recent recipients of the WEC Gold Medal award are: Alcan Inc (2007), ABN AMRO Bank (2006), Starbucks (2005), Johnson Controls Inc. (2004), Ricoh Group Ltd. (2003) and CEMEX (2002).

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