Mars Commits $1 Billion To Sustainability Initiative

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“Mars has been in business for four generations and intends to be for the next four generations. The only way that will happen is if we do things differently to ensure that the planet is healthy and all people in our extended supply chains have the opportunity to thrive,” says Mars CEO Grant Reid. He and his company are putting their money where their mouth is.

Mars sustainability plan

Mars says it will invest $1 billion in a campaign to help cut greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain 67% by 2050, run a poverty reduction and sustainability program for farmers and suppliers, and ramp up food safety and security efforts. “This plan is about not just doing better, but doing what’s necessary. We’re doing this because it’s the right thing to do but also because it’s good business.” Nor is it based purely on altruism. “We expect to have a competitive advantage from a more resource-efficient supply chain, and from ensuring that everyone in our supply chain is doing well.” The program is laid out in detail its website.

OUR SUSTAINABLE IN A GENERATION PLAN

We developed our Sustainable in a Generation Plan to grow in a way we can all be proud of. Combining business principles with science to shape our approach, we are focusing on three interconnected ambitions that foster our commitment to investing in the future, taking a long-term view and leaving the world in a place for future generations.

Healthy Planet — Where our goal is to reduce environmental impacts in line with what science says is necessary to keep the planet healthy.
Thriving People — Where our goal is to significantly improve the working lives of one million people in our value chain to help them thrive.
Nourishing Wellbeing — Where our goal is to advance science, innovation and marketing in ways that help billions of people and their pets lead healthier, happier lives.

MEASURING OUR IMPACTS & SETTING LONG-TERM TARGETS

One of the ways we are achieving our sustainability goals is through sustainable sourcing. This means that we are making sure we get the best ingredients from the best suppliers—suppliers who take care of the land they farm, and who respect the rights of everyone involved. From helping to lift farmers out of poverty to respecting natural resources, we are trying to make a difference.

Mars is a family owned business that has been sharply critical of #FakePresident Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accords. It said it was “disappointed” by the decision because corporations are unable to do all that is needed to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2º Celsius without government assistance.

Grant Reid says, “If we are to help deliver on the targets agreed in Paris and the UN sustainable development goals, there has to be a huge step change. While many companies have been working on being more sustainable, the current level of progress is nowhere near enough.”

Mars customers will now see wind turbines and other renewable energy images featured alongside its familiar red and yellow M&M’s in company advertising. Other visual cues may be featured in ads for the company’s other brands, including Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, and Skittles.

Source: The Guardian


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Steve Hanley

Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Florida or anywhere else The Force may lead him. He is proud to be "woke" and doesn't really give a damn why the glass broke. He believes passionately in what Socrates said 3000 years ago: "The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new." You can follow him on Substack and LinkedIn but not on Fakebook or any social media platforms controlled by narcissistic yahoos.

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