Mars Follows Cadbury on Sustainable Cocoa Sourcing

April 13, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

By 2020, all of Mars chocolate candies will use sustainably sourced cocoa. The candy maker, which sells brands including Snickers, Twix and M&Ms, is first rolling out the effort in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where it sells the Galaxy brand.

The announcement follows a similar one from Cadbury last month.

Next year, about 160 million Galaxy bars will carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified Seal, according to the Associated Press.

Mars will use the Rainforest Alliance program to certify a great portion of its sustainable cocoa by 2020, according to Food Business Review. Under that partnership, Rainforest Alliance will certify up to 100,000 metric tons annually.

Mars maintains a Web page about sustainability and cocoa production.

The candy maker last year began a five-year, $10 million undertaking to map the entire cocoa genome. By developing trees that can better survive drought and disease, the company would reduce its environmental impact. Last year Mars began a project to tap into gas released from a landfill, using the energy to help power some of its Texas operations.

In January, the World Cocoa Foundation announced sustainability principles and goals (PDF) to help guide industry efforts and prioritize the foundation’s development projects in West Africa, Southeast Asia and the Americas. The foundation and its members say they are committed to working towards responsible environmental stewardship in cocoa-farming communities where soil and water are conserved.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

It’s great that everyone is getting on board the Green Train – but there’s a lot of doubt surrounding which methods/products are truly sustainable and which are just green washing. Check out our myth-busting video “What’s Your Big Green Lie?!” which gives a taste of the widespread ignorance of green issues including cloth VS disposable diapers at http://www.biggreenlies.com

Kyle | April 19th, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader