• M&S launches RE:Spark to expand renewable electricity adoption across fashion suppliers in Asia and Turkey.
• Partnership with Schneider Electric provides digital tools, advisory services, and aggregated PPA access for smaller suppliers.
• Initiative forms a core component of M&S’s Plan A strategy to reach net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040.
M&S Launches Global Renewable Electricity Push
Marks & Spencer has introduced a new supply chain decarbonization program aimed at driving renewable electricity adoption across its global fashion network, marking one of the retailer’s most targeted interventions to date under its Plan A climate strategy. The initiative, known as RE:Spark, was announced at Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit North America, where more than 2,500 business leaders gathered to discuss emerging pathways for resilient and lower-carbon energy systems.
Developed in partnership with Schneider Electric’s newly launched SE Advisory Services, RE:Spark is designed to reach suppliers in manufacturing hubs where energy access and procurement structures vary widely. M&S intends to use the program to accelerate credible clean energy uptake in Vietnam, Turkey, India, China, and Bangladesh, five regions central to its apparel sourcing footprint.
Digital Hub and Regional Market Support
A new digital platform, powered by Schneider Electric’s Zeigo Hub, will sit at the center of the program. The tool will allow suppliers to upload emissions data, monitor progress, and receive tailored guidance on renewable electricity solutions. Training modules and curated resources are built into the system to help suppliers understand procurement requirements, market regulations, and the technical steps needed for decarbonization.
M&S will also host regional market briefings and webinars, aiming to equip suppliers with knowledge of local renewable electricity options. These sessions are intended to reduce the information and capacity barriers that often prevent smaller manufacturers from gaining access to clean energy contracts.
Katharine Beacham, Head of Sustainability and Materials in Fashion, Home and Beauty at M&S, said the retailer sees a need to widen its impact beyond its direct operations. “We believe sustainability should be embedded in everything we do, from how we source products to supporting our supply partners and customers to do the right thing,” she said. “We know that real change happens when we collaborate. That’s why RE:Spark is designed not only to ignite new ideas and unlock renewable energy opportunities for our supply base, but also to make the transition easier by providing access to support and resources. By acting as a facilitator, we can help our suppliers build networks and resilience for the long term, sparking a movement of change across the industry and beyond.”
Aggregated PPAs and Supplier Advisory Support
Through Schneider Electric, M&S will provide advisory services for suppliers evaluating options such as onsite solar, energy attribute certificates, green tariffs, and power purchase agreements. A critical part of the strategy is enabling aggregated PPAs, allowing multiple smaller suppliers to join multi-buyer cohorts and secure renewable electricity at competitive scale.
For suppliers operating in markets with complex permitting, weak grid integration, or limited corporate procurement frameworks, these aggregated cohorts are positioned to lower both cost and administrative obstacles. M&S expects this pooled approach to create more predictable demand for renewable developers while giving suppliers access to contracts that would otherwise be out of reach.
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Steve Wilhite, Executive Vice President of SE Advisory Services, described the partnership as essential for addressing practical barriers. “As an energy technology partner, we’re proud to be working with M&S to help suppliers overcome barriers to renewable electricity adoption,” he said. “RE:Spark is a powerful example of how collaboration can drive scalable, impactful change across global supply chains.”
Implications for Climate Governance and Sector Strategy
For executives and investors watching supply chain decarbonization efforts, M&S’s program offers a test case for how large retailers can intervene earlier in their value chains while managing governance risk. Many apparel-sector emissions sit in Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturing, where individual suppliers often lack the balance sheet or technical expertise to procure renewable power independently.
By centralizing tools, training, and contract structures, M&S is effectively assuming a facilitation role that regulators in Europe and the UK are increasingly encouraging through Scope 3 reporting rules and evolving supply chain disclosure requirements. The program’s structure also reflects a shift toward multi-buyer PPA models, which are gaining traction as companies seek to secure renewable capacity despite grid constraints and volatile electricity markets.
Circularity and Long-Term Climate Strategy
RE:Spark adds to M&S’s recent work on manufacturing efficiency and circularity initiatives. The retailer has rolled out a platform known as Another Life to advance reuse, repair, recycling, and resale in fashion, home, and beauty, describing these steps as part of a broader strategy to build sustainable and profitable growth. M&S has set a target to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain by 2040, with RE:Spark serving as a major lever for emissions reductions in regions where supply-chain electricity use is a dominant driver of climate impact.
A Broader Signal for Global Retail Supply Chains
The retailer expects the program to expand over the next three years, reaching more suppliers and potentially widening the geographic scope. For global retail and apparel peers, the move is likely to be watched closely as pressure grows to disclose Scope 3 strategies with greater detail and credibility. As renewable electricity access becomes a central competitiveness factor in sourcing decisions, initiatives like RE:Spark may shape how buyers and manufacturers structure their long-term relationships.
M&S’s approach suggests that large retailers are beginning to take on new facilitator roles in energy transition pathways, linking climate ambition to operational support for suppliers. In a sector where supply chain emissions dominate environmental footprints, these interventions could carry implications far beyond a single brand.
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