Mark & Spencer’s Green Makeover

Mark & Spencer have just given it’s Bournemouth store a complete green makeover. Of the 550 stores in the companies portfolio, the Bournemouth location was selected to get greened up first primarily due to it’s ordinariness. Instead of building a state of the art, flashy new store ripe for press releases, they opted for one of their most representative stores to roll out the green carpet. The logic being, if they can make this store green, they can do it to all the rest with relative ease.

So, what exactly did they do…?

- Installed two sets of front doors to help save heat.

-Infrared sensors have been fitted in the fitting rooms so the lights switch on only when someone is present. The lights dim automatically when people leave.

-Once the burglar alarm is set for the night, the lights automatically go off.

-The air conditioning only chills the air at head level.

-The electricity supply is sourced from a green provider.

-The freezer cabinets have small LED lighting strips instead of fluorescent bulbs and have fully shut doors to save power.

-Escalators run at reduced voltage when empty.

-Shelving units are made from enviro-wall, a substance which is lighter, easier to transport, and a lot more scratch resistant.

- Toilets have a dual flush system that allow you to save water if you choose.

-The roof is covered with green plants that require little water.

-Staff are decked out in fleeces made from recycled water bottles.

-80% of the waste from refurbishing the store was recycled.

-The shop floor is stocked with more green products.

Times Online: This is not just any M&S store …