Mars Reports 16% Reduction in GHG Emissions Amidst 60% Business Growth Since 2015

World 24.07.2024

Source: The DairyNews

Mars, Incorporated has announced a significant milestone in its sustainability efforts with the release of its 2023 Sustainable in a Generation Report. The report highlights an 8% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 2023 alone, doubling the company's total reduction to 16% across its full value chain since 2015. This achievement comes as Mars' business grew by over 60%, reaching annual sales exceeding $50 billion.

Mars Reports 16% Reduction in GHG Emissions Amidst 60% Business Growth Since 2015

The absolute reduction of 5.7 million metric tons of GHG emissions spans Mars' entire Scope 1, 2, and 3 value chain, keeping the company on track to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030. With nearly 60% of its GHG footprint originating from agricultural activities, Mars is investing heavily in climate-smart agriculture initiatives, aiming to implement over 1 million acres of regenerative agriculture worldwide by 2030.

Mars CEO Poul Weihrauch emphasized that this progress is a testament to the company's strategy of achieving robust growth while reducing carbon emissions. He stated, "We are delivering on our business strategy to continue growing while reducing our carbon emissions. We still have a long way to go, but we will continue to follow the science and show how a responsible business can both do well and do good."

Mars' investments in climate-smart agriculture include several initiatives:

A grower-centric program supporting 1,900 farmers in the U.S. and Poland, focusing on crops such as corn, soy, and wheat across more than 1.2 million acres for Mars pet food brands.
Extending a partnership between Royal Canin and Soil Capital, providing financial support to 250 farmers in France and Belgium, covering 300,000 hectares of farmland.
Supporting the Next Generation Soil program in Mexico and Brazil, equipping 100 corn producers with tools and knowledge to enhance productivity and adopt regenerative practices.
Launching the Moov'ing Dairy Forward plan with a $47 million investment over three years to reduce the carbon footprint of dairy through partnerships with Fonterra, Land O'Lakes, Interfood, and FrieslandCampina.

Barry Parkin, Mars' Chief Sustainability and Procurement Officer, commented on the progress: "Our latest carbon reductions show we are on track to deliver a 50% reduction by 2030. While we're proud of this progress, we know we have more work to do, and we look forward to continuing to scale our efforts. It is critically important to strengthen our programs with farmers to help transition to climate-smart and regenerative agriculture."

Image Mars by prnewswire.com