Marks & Spencer have reported that its corporate social responsibility programme, began in 2007, has achieved £185 million in efficiency savings.

The programme had initially cost £200 million but efficiency savings have allowed M&S to reinvest millions back into the scheme.

The sustainability programme included a series of commitments, including waste recycling and becoming carbon neutral. M&S chief executive Marc Bolland, commented that: “Implementing new business models will necessitate more resilient and transparent supply chains. To this end we are already working with suppliers on a series of best practice programmes and factory standards on sustainability,”