Mars bars carbon in sweet green energy move

Chocolate maker Mars isn’t barring excess calories – but it is trying to slim down its carbon emissions by getting all of its US sites powered by renewable energy. The […]

Chocolate maker Mars isn’t barring excess calories – but it is trying to slim down its carbon emissions by getting all of its US sites powered by renewable energy.

The sweet green move will see the giant brand house – which alongside Twix, Mars and Snickers bars is behind Dolmio sauces and pet foods Whiskas and Sheba – link up with a new 118-turbine wind farm.

The wind turbines are set to generate 100% of the electricity needs of Mars’ US operations which includes 70 sites including 37 factories.

Called Mesquite Creek Wind, the 25,000 acre wind farm near Lamesa, Texas is a joint project by Sumitomo and BNB Renewable Energy.

The farm should allow Mars to snip its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2015, using 2007 as its baseline year.

Mars has a goal to make its operations ‘Sustainable in a Generation’ by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

Barry Parkin, chief sustainability officer at Mars Inc said: “We are committed to doing our part to limit climate change. We are therefore delighted to be announcing this major renewable project that takes us a big step towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral in our operations. This is an innovative approach that makes great business and environmental sense.”

Jonathan Butcher Sr, a founder of BNB added: “By making this extraordinary commitment to buy renewable energy, Mars is sending a clear message that companies, private and public, have the power to lead the world on climate change. It’s good for the bottom line, it’s good for the environment and projects like this leave a lasting legacy of values we hold dear.”

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