Marks & Spencer has received the accolade Responsible Retailer of the Year in a global awards scheme.
The title is given by the World Retail Awards to companies that are deemed to be outstanding corporate citizens and to deliver world class standards of best practice in corporate responsibility.

The judges recognised the scale of achievement of Plan A, M&S' ecological and ethical programme, in making the company's operations carbon neutral and sending zero waste to landfill, and its commitment to develop more sustainable products, help its customers live more sustainable lives and engage with its employees.

M&S CEO Marc Bolland, who collected the award, said: "It's our mission to engage millions of people in the journey to a world of more sustainable consumption through customer initiatives like Shwopping.

"Eco-friendly, multi-channel shops like our new Cheshire Oaks store are the future. Plan A is how we do business at M&S - it involves our customers, our employees, our suppliers and our supplier's suppliers. We're fully committed to it."

The award comes soon after M&S was named Company of the Year at Business in the Community's Awards for Excellence.

M&S jointly won its latest award alongside its South African partner Woolworths.