M&S announces switch to paper packaging for its men’s essentials range

Marks & Spencer has announced a switch to paper packaging for its men's essentials range, which is expected to reduce its clothing and home business by nearly 5.5 million plastic units over the next 12 months.

All of M&S's men's socks, men's knitted pajama sets and nearly 40% of its men's underwear range are now available in FSC-certified paper packaging with paper hooks, designed to be easily recycled at home. If the trial is successful this year, the retailer plans to roll out the paper packaging to other products in the men's essentials range, thereby reducing a further 3.5 million plastic units from its clothing and home supply chain.

The retailer claims to sell 20 million pairs of men's socks every year. In 2023, M&S successfully trialled paper packaging and paper hooks for men's and women's accessories, including hats, gloves and scarves, apparently reducing more than 4 million plastic items.

Katharine Beacham, head of sustainability for clothing and home at M&S, said: "We recognise our responsibility to reduce unnecessary plastic use when it comes to packaging. This will also make it easier for our customers to make more sustainable choices when they shop with us, and trust that the quality M&S products they love are made, sourced and packaged with care."

The brand said its commitment to reducing plastic packaging is a key part of its Plan A roadmap to net zero emissions by 2040.

Last year, Aquapak partnered with retail platforms Maxim and N Brown (owner of JD Williams, Jacamo and Simply Be) to create garment bags from Hydropol, a "marine-safe, biodegradable and recyclable" polymer that replaces traditional plastics. Aquapak said the garment bags can be recycled with paper, plastic, metal or food without any risk of contamination.

This month, clothing company TOAST has teamed up with Kvatt, a start-up working to reduce single-use packaging waste in e-commerce, to trial Kvatt's reusable packaging solution for UK customers. Through this service, customers' Toast items are sent in a returnable postal bag with instructions. To return the bag, customers attach the prepaid label to the back and can drop the empty packaging into any UK post box.