Mars Wrigley Australia has announced major achievements across two of its largest sustainability and corporate social responsibility programs.
According to the company, the Mars Wrigley Cocoa for Generations Program and the Sustainable in a Generation Plan initiatives are key performance indicators. The past year has seen “significant acceleration” towards the brand’s sustainability goals.
Cocoa for Generations report
In its recently released Cocoa for Generations report, Mars Wrigley details its latest progress toward creating a “modern, inclusive and sustainable” cocoa supply chain. Advancements include “significant progress” on its Women for Change program and “key” deforestation-free milestones.
The company says it has sourced 61% of cocoa through its Responsible Cocoa program, on track to reach its goal of 100% by 2025.
Through its suppliers, Mars Wrigley is also said to have distributed more than 1.9 million new non-cocoa trees in 2021, helping to increase shade and biodiversity and assist in carbon capture.
In collaboration with CARE, the Cocoa for Generations Women for Change program has reached more than 77,000 members in cocoa farming communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The program aims to empower women and girls in cocoa supply chains and is said to be “critical” to long-term sustainability. This effort is claimed to have supported almost 58,000 women, resulting in over $7.4 million in collective savings and over $3.7 million in loans distributed.
Locally, the company is conducting agricultural research in Far North Queensland to unearth sustainable cocoa production methods. Mars has partnered with James Cook University to study the integration of cocoa within sustainable agroforestry systems. The research is promoted as an Australian first, paving the way for sustainable production of cocoa globally.
Mars Wrigley Australia Director of R&D Chris Hutton says the program aims to revolutionise cocoa productions in supply chains around the world.
“The syntropic ecosystem we’re creating in Far North Queensland is the only site in Australia that is investigating this type of syntropic agriculture to support cocoa farmers,” he says.
“By investing in this research as part of the Cocoa for Generations program, we aim to unlock further understanding on how to best grow cocoa sustainably enrich the lives of cocoa farmers, their families and communities around the world.”
2021 Sustainable in a Generation Scorecard
Mars Wrigley has also released its Sustainable in a Generation scorecard for 2021, highlighting major milestones across its global value chain. Since launching the initiative in 2017, the annual scorecard provides a year-over-year review of progress around the business’ sustainability goals.
“The 2021 Sustainable in a Generation Scorecard marks major developments across the Mars Wrigley business both locally and globally,” says Mr Hutton. “As we continue to move toward our long-term goals, we’re also gearing up to announce some major local achievements within our sustainability and manufacturing strategies, which is a testament to the work our local team is delivering and pioneering for Mars Wrigley globally.”
According to Mars Wrigley, key results from the scorecard include:
- 6.1% reduction in emissions across the entire Mars value chain
- 53% of electricity is drawn from renewable sources
- 24% reduction in unsustainable water use, in line to achieve 2025 target of a 50% reduction
- Mars reached more than 442,200 people through human rights and income efforts and worked to positively impact 61,250 farmers through increased incomes
- 43% of Mars packaging is now designed for recycling for infrastructure that exists today or is likely to exist in the near future