Mars reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent and fossil fuel-based energy use by 9 percent between 2007 and 2014, according to the company’s 2014 Principles in Action Summary annual report.
The global manufacturer of confectionery, pet food and other food products has committed to eliminating fossil fuel use and GHG emissions from its operations by 2040 as part of its Sustainable in a Generation initiative.
The company achieved its 2014 reductions by changing behaviors and investing in new machinery to use less energy. For example, Mars Chocolate in Haguenau, France, uses steam generated from a nearby waste energy facility to meet 90 percent of the site’s heating needs and lower energy-related GHG emissions by 60 percent.
Mars has accelerated its work on renewables to meet its targeted fossil fuel reduction of 25 percent. By the end of 2015, the company anticipates that the energy it gets from renewables will be almost 300 times what it was in 2007.
The company has set its sights on achieving zero waste to landfill by the end of 2015. Between 2007 and 2014, the company reduced waste to landfill by 79 percent, with 86 of its sites achieving zero waste to landfill in 2014.
Mars' performance on water has also improved, moving from a 13.6 percent reduction in 2013 to a 15 percent reduction in 2014, from 2007 levels. Mars has targeted a 25 percent reduction by the end of 2015. To that end, the company is improving processes and increasing the deployment of rainwater harvesting facilities for its offices and factories.
In 2014, 82.5 percent of Mars’ packaging was recyclable or recoverable, where infrastructure exists. Although this is a slight decrease from last year, the company says it is on track to meet its target for 100 percent of its packaging to be recyclable or recoverable by 2015.
In 2014, 36.7 percent of the company’s packaging came from recycled content compared to 41.2 percent in 2013. While this represents a slight decrease, it is well above its 10 percent target.
