M&S is expanding its climate strategy beyond internal operations, launching a new partnership with Schneider Electric to help suppliers transition to renewable electricity. The program, branded RE:Spark, focuses on providing data tools, advisory support, and market access that smaller suppliers often lack, aiming to accelerate decarbonization across its global manufacturing base.
M&S already has net-zero ambitions under its Plan A strategy and a growing circularity effort that includes resale partnerships and take-back programs. But while internal improvements have progressed, the company is now shifting attention to Scope 3 emissions,where most retail climate impact sits, in a move that mirrors broader trends across the apparel sector, where brands such as H&M, VF Corp, and Levi Strauss have launched similar supplier energy transition programs in recent years.
A Push Beyond Internal Footprints Toward Shared Energy Infrastructure
While retailers have historically focused on energy efficiency at their own distribution centers and stores, the bulk of emissions in fashion come from upstream manufacturing. According to public disclosures, Scope 3 can represent more than three-quarters of total emissions for global apparel brands. RE:Spark targets that challenge by helping suppliers source renewable power for factories, warehouses, transport assets, and production equipment.
M&S unveiled the initiative during Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit North America, noting that implementation will begin in high-impact regions across its fashion and food supply chain. The plan spans three years and includes emission-tracking, procurement education, and feasibility support for clean energy projects.
Katharine Beacham, Head of Sourcing and Materials in Fashion, Home & Beauty at M&S, said the program is intended to “ignite new ideas and unlock renewable energy opportunities” while positioning climate progress as a shared responsibility across the value chain.
Schneider Electric Executive Vice President Steve Wilhite called the partnership a way to help suppliers “overcome barriers to renewable electricity adoption,” emphasizing the role of collaboration in scaling climate action globally.
Digital Tools, Carbon Data, and Procurement Support for Smaller Suppliers
A cornerstone of the initiative is a digital platform powered by Schneider Electric’s Zeigo Hub, where suppliers will submit emissions data, track improvements, and access training resources. The hub is designed to formalize reporting, improve accuracy, and provide technical guidance on procurement options, from onsite solar to market-based certificates and power purchase agreements.
The program also includes regional training sessions for suppliers in Bangladesh, China, India, Turkey, and Vietnam, markets that form a major share of global apparel manufacturing. These sessions aim to demystify renewable energy procurement pathways, giving smaller suppliers a starting point for implementation.
In addition to education, suppliers will receive advisory support to evaluate financing and energy sourcing models. For many factories, cost and contract complexity remain the biggest barriers to renewable adoption. To address that, M&S plans to help aggregate demand across suppliers, enabling multi-buyer agreements that offer better pricing and reduce administrative burden, an approach others in the sector have tested with success, particularly in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.
M&S has previously participated in initiatives such as the Apparel Impact Institute’s Carbon Leadership Programme, which supports energy efficiency and fuel switching and has shown potential for up to 30% emissions reduction at participating facilities.
Why Energy-Sourcing Models May Shape Future Supplier Selection
As brands deepen emissions reporting and begin comparing supplier-level data, renewable access could increasingly influence which factories remain in strategic sourcing programs. Many apparel hubs, particularly in Bangladesh and parts of Southeast Asia, still rely heavily on fossil-based grids, and investments in shared PPAs or regional clean-energy infrastructure may benefit early movers disproportionately. That dynamic could shift how brands evaluate partners during sourcing cycles, not just on cost and compliance metrics, but on long-term energy stability and emissions performance that directly affects product-level footprints.
