18 July, 2025

We’ve always thought that protecting the planet is one of the smartest ways to protect a business’s future. One long-term proponent of this view from the retail world is M&S. It’s Plan A sustainability plan has always been predicated on the idea that for a retailer, transformation is both a necessity and an opportunity.

Enter the £1 million Plan A Accelerator Fund, which puts this at the forefront, investing in pioneering projects which turn the M&S supply chain into a testbed for a more secure food system.

One example is its work with strawberries, which teams up AI and bumblebees. This project includes a trial of how smart listening technology can be used to monitor the activity of pollinators in real-time. If a patch is quiet, farmers know instantly and can take action, such as introducing more bees or pollinator-friendly plants. Early results show bee activity has nearly doubled, and that this has led to a more consistent, high-quality crop.This isn’t just about biodiversity; it’s about ensuring a steady supply of a customer-favourite product – M&S’s strawberries. And it’s a clear example of a simple truth: what’s good for the bees is also good for the balance sheet.

Another example is the ‘ChickenChar’ project, which uses biochar in chicken bedding to improve animal welfare (by keeping the bedding drier) and cut emissions (by storing carbon). The biochar then helps create a potent fertiliser, turning waste into a valuable asset and supporting a circular economy – a key goal of the company’s Plan A.

Both examples – and many more of those which the Fund will sponsor – will help M&S build a resilient, adaptable business, proving once again that long-term security and sustainability are two sides of the same coin.

By Semmer Singh