Marks and Spencer launches sustainability competition

Marks and Spencer has launched its 2012 M&S Sustainable Retailing Challenge. The competition offers MBA students from some of the country’s leading business schools the chance to win a cash prize and present their ideas to both M&S’s top

executives and sustainability experts.

It’s a move by the retailer who is on a mission to become the world’s most sustainable retailer by 2015. Working with Cranfield University’s Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility. In the coming months, teams of MBA students from across Europe will compete over three stages to determine which five MBA teams will get through to the London final in April 2012. Richard Gillies, Director of Plan A, CSR and Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer said: “This is a very exciting development and it will better prepare the students for what lies ahead in their career. Sustainability issues are going to be right at the top of the ‘to do’ list for the next generation of business leaders and by sharing knowledge, ideas and expert views, we can learn to innovate and challenge ourselves more. I can’t wait to meet the students and get started.”

Professor David Grayson CBE, Director of the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with M&S on this unique competition which is not only a powerful learning experience for MBA students but also an opportunity to showcase their abilities and exchange ideas on sustainability issues with very senior executives at M&S.”

The first stage requires teams to submit 500 words or a three minute video presentation in response to this brief: "What is better for the environment, people, communities and business: sourcing roses for sale in the UK from Kenya or from the Netherlands and why? How would you measure the impact of each on profits, planet and people?"