M&S is removing over four million units of plastic packaging in cafes across UK, and IKEA has slashed its carbon footprint by 22%.

Marks & Spencer has introduced new recyclable paper packaging across its range of sandwiches and toasties available in all M&S Cafés across the UK.

The entire range of M&S Café sandwiches and toasties will be available in easy to recycle FSC approved cardboard or paper packaging using 79% less plastic. This change should remove an estimated 4.5 million units of plastic supporting M&S’ Plan A target to remove one billion units of plastic packaging by 2027, on their roadmap to net zero by 2040.

Meanwhile, IKEA has reported that it has achieved a 22% reduction of the total IKEA climate footprint in absolute terms compared to baseline year (2016-2023) and more than halving of its climate footprint from product use at home compared to baseline in the same period.

The IKEA climate footprint in FY23 is estimated to be 24.1 million tonnes CO2 eq – a decrease of 12% compared with the previous year. The reduction in FY23 is attributed to the continued increase in renewable electricity at both retail and production units, energy efficiency improvements in its lighting range, in addition to lower production volumes.

“Even though there are many signs and evidence that society is off track with regards to global warming, it is more important than ever to act with urgency and stay committed to the Paris Agreement and to limit any overshoot as much as possible. To further support change, the IKEA business advocates for a complete phase out of fossil fuels and its subsidies, halting deforestation and addressing the root causes of air pollution,” said Pär Stenmark, chief sustainability officer, Inter IKEA Group.

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