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Marks & Spencer (M&S) is one of the UK's leading retailers, with over 21 million people visiting M&S stores around the country every week. On the 15th of January 2007 The Independent published an article titled 'M&S to go carbon neutral in £200 million green initiative' announcing the now famous M&S Plan A. This initiative is an ambitious environmental strategy incorporating 100 commitments in five key areas: (1) climate change; (2) waste management; (3) sustainable raw materials; (4) fairness; and (5) health. Plan A includes aims for M&S to become carbon neutral, send no waste to landfill, be a fair trading partner and help customers to live healthier lifestyles. The Plan A strategy announced in January 2007, envisaged that all these 100 targets would be realised by 2012, and would require an investment of £200 million. This strategy goes to the core of M&S's identity. As the economic downturn impacts on retail business, Richard Gillies, head of Plan A, is asked to create a business case for the different initiatives forming Plan A to move forward. Students are asked to analyse Plan A initiatives on their business value and to present their findings.