Mars has announced its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its full value chain by 2050.
The announcement is a significant improvement on Mars’ previous pledge of 67 per cent by 2050 and comes in the wake of findings from the July Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which reinforced the urgency of achieving net zero globally to prevent the worst impacts of global warming.
Grant Reid, CEO of Mars, said: “The scale of global intervention must be bolder and faster. Climate change is already impacting the planet and people’s lives. To mitigate this real and tangible threat, the science tells us net zero targets must be broad in their reach, capturing emissions across the entire value chain and plans need to have material, interim targets. We can’t wait decades to see progress.
“However, all too often, this simply isn’t the case – and the gaps that exist in some net zero commitments risks undermining their credibility, and even more importantly, the climate action movement. We can’t allow that to happen.
“To deliver meaningful impact and ensure it is fit for purpose, our net zero target covers our entire GHG footprint, from how we source materials through to how consumers use our products, we’re mobilising our entire business around taking action now and hitting interim targets every five years.”
To achieve net zero Mars is taking a number of steps including transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy, redesigning its supply chains to stop deforestation, scaling up sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and linking executive pay to climate action.
Mars is also taking a leadership position by creating a program called Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition which challenges their extended supply chain to take action in reducing their own GHG footprint.
Barry Parkin, Mars Chief Sustainability and Procurement Officer, said their supplier’s part in delivering emissions reductions would be critical in coming years.
“More than three quarters of our impacts are embedded in the materials that we purchase – so we must change what we buy or where we buy it or, perhaps more importantly, how we buy it.
“It is also clear that further transformation of agriculture is needed. We will push the boundaries of what is possible through regenerative agriculture, and this will require an acceleration of our work, along with deeper and more integrated partnerships with our suppliers, and stronger government frameworks that incentivise sustainable practices.”
Mars’ full net zero roadmap will be developed and published in 2022.