Marks & Spencer
Ecology and sustainability as decision criterion

'Plan A' is the ambitious concept with which the British department store chain of Marks & Spencer sets new standards with regard to ecology and social responsibility. All products of the portfolio as well as the materials to be used for construction measures thus have to meet criteria based on this concept. The company choose rubber for its floorcoverings.

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is among the renowned British retail store chains and looks back to more than 120 years of success. The worldwide active company operates around 450 stores in Great Britain which are predominantly located in the top city centre locations and offer high-quality products of the upscale price segment on sales areas between 5,000 and 10,000 square metres. The department stores offer a vast range of products from ladies, men's and children's wear, cosmetics and body care products to furniture and accessories. This is supplemented by a comprehensive offer of foodstuff which is sold in special food halls.

Already in the 1950s, M&S started to produce the goods required for sale itself or had them especially produced for Marks & Spencer. And the company didn't just want to sell its own goods and own labels. Already at a very early stage, the retail store chain took care that the processes, procedures, and methods required for the production as well as the used materials meet the high social, ethical, and ecological demands of M&S. Based on this tradition, the company developed the concept 'Plan A' which aimed at specifically protecting men and the environment. The ambitious plan includes 100 different aspects with which M&S wants to contribute to solving the five most important problems of our times in the next five years together with employees, customers, and suppliers:
- reduction of the CO₂ emissions
- reduction of the waste volumes
- protection of renewable raw materials
- fair trade, as well as
- healthy diet.

Plan A has been implemented since January 2007 and now forms the basis of all decisions in all departments of the company. For its numerous new buildings, conversion and modernisation measures, M&S was thus looking for a floorcovering which
- meets the demanding criteria of Plan A with regard to ecology and sustainability,
- offers employees and customers a high level of walking comfort,
- is characterised by durability, long life and economic cleaning, and
- emphasises the individuality and exclusivity of the department stores.

The decision was made in favour of the rubber floorcovering nora®, and Freudenberg Bausysteme KG , Weinheim, developed the design norament® 925 grano S8 in cooperation with M&S. This floorcovering offers a hammerblow surface and a fine scatter design and is suitable for highest loads. As with all floorcoverings of the Weinheim company, these floorcoverings are based on natural and industrial rubbers which are mixed with minerals from natural resources and further components, drawn into blanks, pressed and then vulcanised under heat and pressure. This process lends the floorcoverings their permanently resilient properties and the wear-resistant surface. nora® rubber floorcoverings are available in approx. 300 standard colours and numerous surfaces, are extremely durable and resilient. Even in case of heavy use, almost no wear becomes visible - as proven by numerous project examples. Frictional heat does not leave any melting traces. The floorcoverings are in addition slip-resistant, foot-warm, permanently resilient and combine a high level of walking comfort with an excellent footfall sound absorption. nora® floorcoverings are classified as flame-retardant and do not contain any PVC, plasticizers (phthalates) or halogens (e.g. chlorine). In case of fire, no hydrochloric gas is released which might lead to caustic burns of the respiratory tract and might form hydrochloric acid in combination with fire fighting water.

nora floorcoverings made of rubber are produced in Germany with environmentally compatible and resource-saving production methods. Freudenberg Bausysteme KG is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001 (quality management system) and according to the international standard DIN EN ISO 14001 (environmental management system). In addition, the company has been validated according to the EU-wide valid voluntary eco auditing scheme, the Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), since 1996.

Marks & Spencer decided to use norament® 925 grano S8 in the two colours bright beige and black and will install around 100,000 square metres of this rubber floorcovering in its British department stores this year alone. The black floorcovering will exclusively be used in the food halls. In these food halls, it highlights the colours of the food and their packagings with its mat glossy surface and at the same time makes displays, trolleys and cash registers look like modern objects of art. The bright floorcovering will be installed in the non food areas and in combination with the walls, displays and shelves creates an atmosphere in which M&S can present the high-quality product range for demanding customers remaining true to its unique ecological standards.

Photographs: Freudenberg Bausysteme KG

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nora® rubber floorcoverings meet the demanding criteria the British department store chain of Marks & Spencer established in its Plan A for ecology and sustainability.

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The floorcovering with its bright surface highlights the presentation of the high-quality product range.

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The retail store chain of Marks & Spencer will install approx. 100,000 square metres of nora rubber floorcoverings in its British department stores this year alone; bright beige in the non food areas and black in the food halls.

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In the food halls, the mat glossy rubber surface makes displays, trolleys and cash registers look like modern objects of art.

Information
Freudenberg Bausysteme KG
Bettina Haffelder
69465 Weinheim

Phone: +49 (0) 6201/ 80-56 66
Fax: +49 (0) 6201/ 88-30 19
Email: nora@freudenberg.de