Mars Net Zero Roadmap: 50% Emissions Cut by 2030
Mars has unveiled its ambitious plan, "The Mars Net Zero Roadmap," outlining a comprehensive strategy to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its entire value chain by 2050.
This groundbreaking roadmap includes a newly established target, validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative, aiming to slash emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to a 2015 baseline, with a clear trajectory towards achieving Net Zero by 2050.
Having peaked in emissions in 2018, Mars has already made significant strides in reducing GHGs by 8%, or 2.6 million metric tonnes, against the 2015 benchmark, all while expanding its business by a remarkable 60% during this period.
As part of this action plan, Mars commits to investing over $1 billion in the next three years and is prepared to allocate further financial resources as needed until the Net Zero goal is realised.
The company's commitment spans from the farms where food is cultivated for both humans and pets to the veterinary clinics that care for our beloved animals, showcasing a dedicated effort to curtail GHG emissions across all its operations, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.
Net Zero, in this context, signifies a state in which greenhouse gases are significantly reduced, with any remaining emissions being offset by removal efforts.
This roadmap arrives in response to recent findings by the United Nations-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which emphatically stated that the time for decisive action on climate change is now to avert potential disasters.
Notably, a comprehensive Ipsos survey, commissioned by Mars, indicates a global consensus that, despite prevailing economic challenges, 69% of adults across the world's seven largest economies believe businesses should prioritise addressing climate change to the same extent (32%) or even more (37%), than economic concerns.
This extensive research, involving 14,468 individuals in the USA, UK, China, Japan, Germany, France, and India, also reveals that nearly half of respondents in these major economies place significant responsibility on multinational corporations and governments to implement changes to combat climate change.
Poul Weihrauch, CEO of Mars, emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, "2050 may seem distant, but the progress we achieve over the next seven years is pivotal. My generation of CEOs bears both the capability and responsibility to deliver concrete emissions reductions and set a clear course toward Net Zero by 2050.
"That's why Mars is committed to achieving a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. We cannot afford to wait for economic conditions to improve; we must forge ahead with investments that safeguard our business today and in the future.
"Profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive. Investing in emissions reduction is not a trade-off between the planet and productivity or the environment and employment. Consumers and our associates clearly desire both, and so do we. Investing in emissions reduction is not only good for the planet but also sound business policy, and it is both attainable and necessary."
Poul Weihrauch further emphasised the importance of assessing companies based on actual results achieved through climate plans rather than merely the scale of their commitments, mirroring how businesses are evaluated by their boards and investors based on financial results rather than financial forecasts.
Barry Parkin, Chief Sustainability and Procurement Officer at Mars, underscored the company's dedication to science-driven actions, emphasising that Mars aims to cut emissions across its entire value chain by 50% by 2030, equivalent to about 15 million metric tonnes, building on the already achieved 8% reduction in GHGs.
The Mars Net Zero Roadmap outlines a comprehensive approach, offering a model that companies across various sectors can employ for meaningful Net Zero action. This approach encompasses all emissions, prioritises tangible results over mere promises, establishes concrete milestones, makes immediate decisions with long-term repercussions, and addresses unmitigable emissions through high-quality carbon credits.
Mars will intensify its efforts to:
Transition to 100% renewable energy, encompassing changes in energy sources for its factories, offices, veterinary hospitals, ingredient sourcing, and even customer (retailer) and consumer/pet owner energy consumption at home.
Redesign supply chains to combat deforestation, with an emphasis on enhancing transparency and traceability for key ingredients like cocoa, soy, and beef.
Scale up climate-smart agricultural initiatives by partnering with farmers to implement regenerative agriculture, optimise sourcing, and transition to renewable energy.
Optimise product recipes, developing new ingredients with lower GHG footprints for snacks and human food, as well as alternative proteins for pet food.
Enhance and optimise logistics, reconfiguring networks, transportation modes, and energy sources, such as electric vehicles and green hydrogen.
Embed climate action throughout the business, integrating emissions reduction into governance, business planning, shareholder objectives, executive remuneration plans, investment decisions, merger and acquisition strategies, and more.
For those interested in delving deeper into Mars' Net Zero strategy and roadmap, the document is available for download at www.mars.com/netzero2050. Additionally, Ipsos offers comprehensive results from their research on their website.
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Source: Mars
