Mars reduced absolute GHG emissions by 1.9% in 2024, achieving a 16.4% cut since 2015 while growing to $55 billion in annual net sales.
Launched a $250 million Mars Sustainability Investment Fund (MSIF) targeting solutions in advanced agriculture, innovative ingredients, and next-gen packaging.
Expanded climate-smart agricultural projects to 60+ across 29 countries, with major gains in deforestation-free supply chains, water efficiency, and farmer livelihoods.
Mars Incorporated has announced a 1.9% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, reinforcing its continued ability to decouple environmental impact from economic growth. Since 2015, the company has now achieved a 16.4% reduction in GHG emissions while increasing its net sales by more than 69%, reaching $55 billion annually.
In its newly released 2024 Mars Sustainable in a Generation Report, the company detailed how growth has been underpinned by deep investment in regenerative agriculture and supply chain transformation.
“I’m pleased to see our continued ability to decouple our business growth from our carbon footprint,” said Poul Weihrauch, CEO of Mars. “Looking ahead, there will be setbacks – and we must be unafraid to say so – but we will stay focused on making progress, growing our business and reducing the impact we have on the planet by helping everyone thrive.”
Scalable Climate-Smart Solutions
Mars now has more than 60 agricultural partnerships across 29 countries, covering 13 crops, with a sharp focus on improving farmer resilience and sustainability. Key project milestones include:
Livelihoods Fund for Family Farmers (L3F):
932 farmers certified under the RSPO standard
2,031 hectares transitioned to sustainable practices
8,000 hectares of forest protected through community conservation
KIND Almond Acres Initiative:
Pilot acreage nearly doubled
17% improvement in water use efficiency through subsurface irrigation
Moo’ving Dairy Forward Plan:
$47 million committed over 3 years to lower GHG emissions in the dairy supply chain
RESTORE Project (Cocoa):
Focuses on forest protection, increasing tree cover, and building community livelihoods
Sustainable Aromatic Rice Initiative (SARI) – Thailand:
Reached 1,445 farmers, 66% women
Yield increased by 43% in Roi Et and 10% in Central Plain
Water use reduced by 56% and 41%, respectively
Mars is also transforming its internal accountability mechanisms. In 2024, the company expanded long-term compensation criteria tied to GHG emission reductions to 2,000 top leaders, up from 400, reinforcing that sustainability is core to business performance.
RELATED ARTICLE: Marsh launches world’s first insurance for green and blue hydrogen projects
“We’re firmly committed not just to targets in a distant future but to delivering progress now,” said Alastair Child, Mars Chief Sustainability Officer. “To continue to deliver progress consistently, we need systemic change across our supply chains, with governments, industry and farmers all playing a role.”
$250M Mars Sustainability Investment Fund
In a bold move to accelerate breakthrough solutions, Mars unveiled the Mars Sustainability Investment Fund (MSIF) — a $250 million capital commitment to catalyze innovation in critical areas of climate impact. The fund will support both investment funds and direct investments in:
Advanced Agriculture: Emissions-reducing technologies in farming inputs
Innovative Ingredients & Raw Materials: Healthier and lower-emission alternatives to traditional inputs
Next-Generation Packaging: Circular solutions that are recyclable, compostable, or bio-benign
This investment builds on Mars’ broader Sustainable in a Generation Plan, reflecting the company’s ambition to lead on environmental resilience while creating economic value.
The full report also highlights broader impacts, including:
Delivery of 3.5 billion healthy meals, with 309 million servings of fiber and 372 million servings of vegetables
5% sodium reduction since 2019
Positive impact on 850,000+ lives across its value chain
64.1% of consumer-facing packaging now designed to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable
With its integrated approach, Mars continues to position sustainability not just as a risk mitigation strategy but as a long-term driver of innovation and competitive advantage.
Follow ESG News on LinkedIn
