Mars, Incorporated Publishes 2013 Principles in Action Summary

MCLEAN, Va., July 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars, Incorporated publishes its fourth annual Principles in Action Summary today on mars.com, which details the company's approach to business – the challenges it shares with society, and its commitment to put the Mars Five Principles into action.  This includes a target for the private, family-owned business to eliminate all fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from its direct operations by 2040.

"As a society, we are faced with a range of daunting global challenges.  At Mars we want to drive positive change and meaningful difference by investing in sustainable choices that will create benefits for the long-term, and collaborate on challenges we share with the wider community," comments Paul S. Michaels, Co-President, Mars, Incorporated.  "We know that people want to hear more about what we are doing to make a difference.  This includes being transparent about areas where we need to work harder or take a different approach. This summary is intended to be a clear-eyed view of both successes and gaps yet to be filled. For example, the building of Mesquite Creek wind farm in Texas will generate energy from renewable sources equivalent to the electricity requirements of our entire U.S. operations," said Michaels. "But, we will have to look at significant additional interventions to achieve our 2040 goal of eliminating greenhouse gases from our operations."

Co-President Grant F. Reid, comments; "At Mars, we have made ambitious commitments that require us to think and act differently and, we hope, encourage industry to do the same. That model has worked successfully for us over the years in cocoa sustainability, and I am proud of the impact we've made there. Our new policy on deforestation is another example of setting a bold tone for how we will approach our supply chain. I am committed to ensuring that the Mars Leadership Team continues to prioritize finding innovative ways to ensure a profitable and sustainable future for Mars while making a difference for people and the planet."

Investing in our Associates and their Communities

Mars believes that the heart and soul of the business is its 75,000 Associates who put its Five Principles into action every day.

• In 2013, Mars Associates gave nearly 70,000 volunteer hours through the Mars Volunteer Program, which positively impacted nearly 28,000 people and over 5,000 pets around the globe.

• In 2014, Mars opened a new state-of-the-art chocolate manufacturing plant in Topeka, Kansas, U.S., and in doing so created more than 200 jobs. Over the last three years Mars has created similar opportunities around the globe by opening six new sites for its Wrigley, Petcare and Chocolate business segments across China, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

• The company has increased the number of its female managers to 40% (38% in 2012).

• In 2013, Mars achieved the 70th percentile of all companies in the global Gallup Q12 Workplace Survey database and was the recipient of the prestigious 2013 Gallup Great Workplace Award.

• Mars received more than 20 great workplace ranking awards globally in 2013.

Accelerating Efforts and Improving its Products

The company continues to face significant challenges, which in some cases has impacted on its reported progress towards its sustainable operations, sourcing and health & wellness goals and commitments in 2013.  To address these challenges, Mars took the following steps in 2014:  

• Reducing Fossil Fuel Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions – In April 2014, Mars' announced a partnership with Sumitomo Corporation and BNB Renewable Energy to invest and build a massive new wind farm in Texas, which will meet its 2015 goal of 25% reduction of fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and represents the biggest long-term commitment to renewable energy use of any food manufacturing business in the U.S. 

• Ensuring a Sustainable Supply Chain - In January 2014, Mars invited 11 expert stakeholders to a workshop on deforestation to help develop a vision and strategy for its new Deforestation Policy. Mars' new policy was launched in March 2014, prioritizing palm oil, beef, paper and pulp, and soy.  Additionally, by end of 2015, Mars is committed to a fully traceable palm oil supply chain. 

• Health & Wellness - Mars shares concerns about the growing population and rising obesity levels with the wider industry, and as part of this pledged to ensure that all of its single serve chocolate products are at or below 250 calories per portion by the end of 2013.  Mars will be accelerating its efforts to ensure that 100%, rather than the current 95%, of its chocolate portfolio meets this target.  Mars is also continuing its commitment to implement GDA (guideline daily amount) nutritional labelling across its confectionery and food products. 

Other key highlights of the 2013 Principles in Action Summary, which covers areas of the business such as Supply Chain, Operations, Brands, Health and Wellness and Working at Mars, include:

• Mars is now the world's largest purchaser of cocoa from certified sources – increasing its purchase of certified cocoa to 30% of total volumes towards its goal of 100% certified cocoa by 2020.

• Mars Chocolate has built 20 Cocoa Development Centers (CDCs) in partnership with international donor agencies and governments, with 35 more planned for 2014.

• Mars' landfill volumes are now just 34% of what they were in 2007; by the end of 2013, 55 sites were landfill free, eliminating nearly 100,000 tonnes of landfill waste annually.

• Mars provides ongoing support for Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, embodying its commitment to scientific dialogue, international collaboration and the development of world-class talent.

*On July 24, 2014, Mars, Incorporated held a live Twitter chat in collaboration with Aman Singh and TriplePundit to offer an in-depth discussion about sustainability at the food manufacturer. The conversation can be viewed at #MarsSusty on Twitter.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information about Mars, Incorporated, please visit mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/Mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars

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SOURCE Mars, Incorporated