Mars has released its Net Zero Roadmap, an open-source action plan to achieve Net Zero emissions and cut its carbon in half by 2030 across its full value chain. It will be investing $1bn into its climate action plan over the next three years alone.
It all follows the commission of a ‘major’ new Ipsos survey in which it was found that 69% of adults across the world’s seven largest economies think business’ focus on tackling climate change should be equal to or greater than tackling economic challenges.
The research surveyed 14,468 people in the USA, UK, China, Japan, Germany, France, and India. It also found that nearly half in the world’s seven largest economies place ‘a great deal’ of responsibility on multinational nosiness and governments to make changes to address climate change.
The Mars Roadmap includes a new target reviewed by the Science Based Target initiative to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain by 2050.
Poul Weihrauch, Mars ceo said that while 2050 “can seem to be in the distant future, the progress we make in the next seven years is critical.”
“My generation of ceos has the ability and responsibility to deliver actual emission reductions and put business on a clear path to Net Zero by 2050,” he continued. “That’s why Mars is committed to delivering a 50% reduction in GHG by 2030. We cannot wait for the economy to improve, we must push forward with investments that protect our business today and in the future.
“As I have said before, profit and purpose are not enemies. Investment in climate is not a trade-off between planet and productivity, or between environment and employment. Consumers and our Associates clearly want both – and so do we. Investing in emissions reductions is sound business policy, it is achievable, and it is absolutely necessary.”
The company peaked emissions in 2018 and has reduced GHGs in absolute terms by 8% or 2.6 million metric tonnes against a 2015 baseline, while growing the business 60% during that time. Mars will continue to invest in its climate action on top of the committed $1bn until Net Zero is reached.
To achieve Net Zero, Mars will accelerate its focus on the transition to 100% renewable energy by changing how it powers its factories, offices, and veterinary hospitals; redesign its supply chains to stop deforestation by enhancing transparency and traceability of key ingredients such as cocoa, soy, and beef; scale up initiatives in climate smart agriculture; improving and optimising logistics and the type of transport Mars relies on and the energy sources used; and embed climate action into the business by including it as a shareholder objective and introducing variable remuneration plans of senior executives.
Barry Parkin, Mars’ chief sustainability and procurement officer, said: “Mars has always followed science, and science says we must cut our emissions across our full value chain by 50% by 2030. In preparing our roadmap, we have learned this is both entirely possible to deliver with existing science and technology as well as entirely affordable. We can both grow our business and cut emissions. I hope our roadmap clearly and powerfully demonstrates what Mars is doing and, critically, what we believe needs to happen at scale to help tackle the worst impacts of climate change.”
