Mars Inc.: Goes 100% Wind for All Mexican Operations

McLean / VA. (mi) Mars Incorporated, a family-owned global pet care, confectionery and food business, announced that it will source all electricity for its Mexico operations from a new wind farm in Dzilam Bravo, Yucatan, moving the company’s energy consumption to 100 percent renewables in Mexico. Overview:

• Mars believes the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today.
• With the use of wind power, Mars Mexico will reduce its emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) 40 percent by 2020.
• Mars already consumes clean energy in its operations in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, with Australia coming online soon.
• Through our Sustainable in a Generation Plan, Mars is investing USD 1 billion USD over the next few years to create a healthy planet on which all people can thrive.

Mars has signed a new 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Vive Energía and Envision Energy to supply the electricity required for its six Mexico-based confectionery and pet food facilities (two in Nuevo León, one at Estado de México, two at Querétaro, and one at Jalisco).

The announcement represents a great step forward for Mars in continuing to advance the goals of its Sustainable in a Generation Plan – the global strategy for advancing the sustainability of the business and a better world for future generations. Mars has targeted a 40 percent reduction of its direct global GHG emissions by 2020, with the goal of reaching 100 percent by 2040. Mars has already met and exceeded this goal ahead of time, relying on 53 percent renewables today.

«Mars is thrilled to be flipping the switch to wind energy,» says the champion of the project, Eduardo González, Manufacturing Director for Mars Latin America. «Our Sustainable in a Generation Plan sets out bold ambitions to advance the sustainability of our business for the next generation. We are investing USD 1 billion over the next few years to extend our focus deep in our supply chains, within our direct operations and, where impactful, with customers and consumers, too. Today, here in Mexico, we are taking a stand on climate change. Among our goals: reducing GHG emissions across our global value chain by 27 percent by 2025 and 67 percent by 2050 in order to do our part to keep the planet from warming beyond two degrees.»

Mars Mexico joins nine other regional Mars operations that have already migrated to clean energy, consistent with Mars’ commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to proactively combat climate change.

«Congratulations to Mars, which, as the first North American company to join RE100 nearly five years ago, continues to lead the way on renewable energy by investing in wind projects around the world,» said Amy Davidsen, Executive Director of the not-for-profit The Climate Group, NA. «We are excited to learn of this new project in Yucatan, Mexico, a state government committed to reducing its emissions as part of the Under2 Coalition. Companies and local governments can work together to build renewable energy capacity, accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels, and tackle climate change.»

Mars partnered with Commodity Risk Solution, LLC (CRS), a global renewable energy market advisor, to structure the PPA. According to CRS co-founder Luke Marriott, «With this agreement, Mars will deliver an innovative agreement that will provide a lasting economic advantage in the recently reformed Mexico wholesale electricity market. CRS approaches the whole business, from energy buyer to CFO, and delivers outcomes that pave the way for a sustainable future.»

For Mars, tomorrow starts today, and this bold change is just one example of the company’s ambitious goals and the progress being made to achieve them.