Mars Achieves Significant Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mars, the multinational company known for brands like Snickers, Twix, and M&M’s, has made substantial progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. According to their 2024 sustainability report, Mars has successfully decreased emissions across its supply chain by 16.4% compared to a 2015 baseline. This achievement includes a 1.9% reduction in emissions in the last year alone.
One of the key factors contributing to Mars’ reduced carbon footprint is its increased focus on agricultural partnerships. The company has supported over 60 climate-forward agricultural projects in 29 countries, leading to lower carbon emissions, improved soil health, and enhanced water quality and management practices.
In addition to cutting emissions, Mars has launched the Mars Sustainable Investment Fund, a $250 million initiative aimed at supporting companies developing sustainable solutions for industry challenges. This fund underscores Mars’ commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Mars has managed to achieve these environmental milestones without impeding its growth. Since 2015, the company has experienced a 69% increase in annual net sales, reaching approximately $55 billion.
Looking ahead, Mars is working towards sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2040 and aims to halve its total emissions by 2030, with a long-term goal of achieving net-zero status by 2050.
Furthermore, Mars is making strides in sustainable packaging, with over 64% of its consumer-facing packaging designed to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. This reflects the company’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting circular economy practices.
Alastair Child, Mars’ Chief Sustainability Officer, emphasized the importance of collaboration in driving meaningful climate action. Mars recognizes the need to work with partners across the supply chain, governments, industries, and farmers to achieve collective sustainability goals.
By embedding sustainability into its business operations and incentivizing executives to prioritize greenhouse gas reductions, Mars is demonstrating its dedication to integrating environmental responsibility into all aspects of its business.
The establishment of the Mars Sustainable Investment Fund further solidifies the company’s commitment to sustainable innovation. This fund will focus on advancing agricultural technologies, developing eco-friendly ingredients, and designing recyclable packaging solutions.
In a recent partnership with dairy co-operative Fonterra, Mars has invested $27 million in incentivizing dairy farmers to reduce emissions. This initiative is part of Mars’ Farmer Forward Program, which aims to address the environmental impact of dairy farming, a significant contributor to the company’s carbon footprint.