Mars: Committed to Renewables Across Manufacturing
Mars is taking substantial action in its Renewable Acceleration programme by collaborating with energy partner Enel.
The focus of Mars as a leader in manufacturing extends beyond its well-known products.
The company is fully committed to infusing sustainability into its operational fabric, spanning from partnerships with NGOs to ethical sourcing of raw materials.
Since the inception of its Generation Plan in 2017, Mars has been diligently working to ensure its operations contribute positively to global challenges.
Supply chain decarbonisation
While Mars is widely recognised for its confectionery and pet food, it's equally celebrated for its integration of sustainable practices across its supply network.
By teaming up with Enel, Mars is making notable progress in its decarbonisation efforts, marking a pivotal step with the Renewable Acceleration programme designed to expedite its transition to clean energy.
“Many large companies are well on their way to sourcing renewable electricity for their own operations, but that’s just a part of the picture,” says Kevin Rabinovitch, Global VP Sustainability at Mars.
“For Mars, Renewable Acceleration is a performance accelerator, cutting emissions at a scale and speed we could never achieve through traditional value chain engagement approaches. It lets us bring demand for all the electricity used in our value chain to the clean energy market in a highly efficient manner."
The shift to renewable energy targets the entire value chain of Mars, positioning it to undertake comprehensive environmental responsibility.
This change affects everything from ingredient suppliers to the logistics of product delivery, where electric vehicles will play a key role.
Alastair Child, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mars, explains: "[The partnership with Enel] means sourcing renewable electricity to cover everything from the farms that grow our ingredients to the trucks that deliver products, and even the energy used by consumers at home to enjoy their favorite Mars products, like Ben’s Original and SNICKERS Ice Cream, or at their BANFIELD veterinarian’s office.
"By implementing this strategy, we could cut around three million tonnes of carbon emissions from the Mars full value chain, amounting to an estimated 10% of our current total footprint. This is a huge unlock for decarbonisation and we’re just getting started."
Renewable electricity, as a highly cost-effective and publicly-supported approach, plays a central role in this decarbonisation strategy.
Developing sustainable value chains
The cornerstone of Mars’ efforts in the Renewable Acceleration programme is its contract with Enel North America.
The partnership highlights the largest power purchase agreement struck by Mars, setting a new record for Enel's global deals with commercial clients.
“Renewable Acceleration is a bold initiative to support the buildout of more clean energy capacity, which we know is among the fastest and most economical ways to decarbonise,” adds Michele Di Murro, CEO of Enel North America.
“Mars is raising the bar for corporate sustainability strategies, taking a comprehensive and direct approach to addressing emissions across its entire value chain. Enel is proud to partner with Mars in launching this new program.”
Looking to expand this impact, Mars continues to develop additional renewable energy contracts with other global partners.
This broad strategy underlines Mars' commitment to foster robust and impactful supply chains.
By forming alliances with multiple suppliers, Mars enhances energy resilience and forward-thinking in its approach to meet environmental goals. Such initiatives allow it to generate renewable energy at scales that will expedite the achievement of its decarbonisation targets.
The partnership will enable Mars to generate a combined total of 1.8 terawatt-hours annually from the initial three contracts with Enel.
This output is expected to avoid around 700,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent annually. As further contracts roll out, Mars anticipates a further 10% reduction in its total carbon footprint by 2030.
The success of these initiatives not only transforms Mars' supply chain but may also inspire other manufacturers to adopt similar sustainable paths.
