NET ZERO
The past, present and future of sustainability at Mars The foundation of Mars’ sustainability approach dates back decades and is embedded in the company’ s Five Principles, particularly“ Efficiency” – using resources to the full and wasting nothing. This philosophy evolved into more structured commitments with the launch of the multi-billion dollar Sustainable in a Generation plan in 2017, followed by a comprehensive net zero roadmap in 2023.
MARS’ FIVE PRINCIPLES
• Quality
• Responsibility
• Mutuality
• Efficiency
• Freedom
“ We’ re reducing our environmental impacts in line with what science says is needed to keep our planet healthy,” Nici explains.“ We’ re on track to cut all Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 50 % by 2030, with a pathway to net zero by 2050,”
What makes these targets credible is that Mars has aligned them with the Science-Based Targets Initiative, requiring specific interim goals rather than distant aspirations. The company has also built sustainability into executive compensation, tying 20 % of bonuses for the top 1,700 Associates and 40 % for the top 400 to sustainability performance.
The results speak for themselves – between 2015 and 2023, Mars reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 16 % across its full value chain against its 2015 baseline, while growing the business more than 60 %.“ That’ s given us a lot of confidence both internally and externally that it’ s not a choice – it’ s possible to do well and do good,” Nici notes.
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