Retail
Marks & Spencer launches Eco-store
The 2 Degrees Network today reported on Marks & Spencers’ new ‘eco-store’ at Cheshire Oaks on the edge of Liverpool. The new store is the biggest they have ever built and, according to M&S, one of the world’s largest sustainable retail stores.
Under their Corporate Sustainability programme, Plan A, M&S have set out 180 sustainability commitments they intend to achieve by 2015 ‘with the ultimate goal of becoming the world’s most sustainable major retailer’. Around 20 of these commitments relate to the impact of their property and so the new store is an important step for reducing the impact of the retail estate.
The new store employs the sustainability knowledge M&S have built up through their ‘learning store’ at Ecclesall Road, Sheffield. Sustainability features include the use of a FSC certified wood roof structure instead of steel, rainwater harvesting to fulfill 20% of its water needs, zero construction waste to landfill, roof windows and LEDs to reduce energy used for lighting, and hemp clad panels containing less embodied carbon than mainstream materials. The store also uses 20% renewable energy (from offsite sources) and boasts a ‘local sustainable urban draining’ system.
For more background read the original article here: M&S’ greenest store sets agenda for future designs