|
Mars is one of a number of U.S. firms, including Walmart Stores
Inc and Apple Inc, that have committed to curbing climate change
even as sentiment on the issue shifts in Washington. U.S.
corporations including Home Depot Inc and General Mills are now
major users of renewable energy like solar and wind.
The McLean, Virginia-based firm plans to spend $1 billion as it
expands its sustainability goals beyond previously announced
targets to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by
2020 from its level in 2007.
"We expect to have a competitive advantage from a more resource
efficient supply chain," Mars Chief Executive Officer Grant F.
Reid said in a statement.
The company now said it will cut greenhouse gas emissions across
its supply chain by 67 percent by 2050.
Some companies have reaffirmed their commitment to battle
climate change in recent months, after President Donald Trump
said in June the United States would withdraw from the Paris
climate agreement. The move drew praise from fossil fuel groups
but criticism from others.
Mars has been sequencing genomes for crops like cocoa to make
the plants more productive and has begun to have conversations
with suppliers including mint oil manufacturers on potentially
transitioning to renewable energy, said Andy Pharoah, Mars Vice
President of Corporate Affairs. The company already uses
renewable energy to power its operations in U.S. and U.K.
markets.
Mars is also targeting reducing poverty in the production of
some of its core crops, namely cocoa, rice and mint, and
addressing human rights violations in cocoa, palm oil, and fish.
Exploitative labor and deforestation have been persistent issues
for crops like cocoa and palm oil, two major ingredients for
Mars' candy bars. In addition to candies like M&M's and
Snickers, the company makes pet food and Uncle Ben's rice.
"Forced labor has no place in our supply chain, so we are very
focused on making progress against that," said Pharoah. "There’s
a whole range of activities on that. That starts with being open
and transparent and calling it out."
(Reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
