
Mars Inc. candy brand M&M’s launched a massive campaign yesterday to promote wind energy. Aimed at consumers, the Fans of Wind campaign is part of a $1 billion investment by Mars to address urgent global threats, including climate change.
In the campaign, red and yellow M&M’s “spokescandies” invite consumers to become fans of wind power. “Fans of Wind energy helps shine a light on one reason why everyone should care about wind energy: because climate change is real and businesses need to be a part of the solution,” the candy maker says in a press release.
Earlier this month, the McLean, Virginia-based company announced plans to maintain the objectives of the Paris climate accord by enforcing its own greenhouse gas emissions goals across the supply chain. Using a start date of 2007, Mars aims to reduce emissions 67% by 2050.
The new campaign supports Mars’ own efforts to purchase wind energy. Mars partnered with Sumitomo Corporation of Americas to build the Mesquite Creek Wind Farm in Lamesa, Texas. The candy maker called the 200-megawatt farm, which opened in February 2015, “the biggest long-term commitment to using renewable energy of any food manufacturing business in the United States.” Currently Mars purchases enough power from the 118-turbine, 25,000-acre wind farm to run all of its sites in the country.
Mars also has a partnership with a 60-megawatt capacity wind farm in Moy, Scotland, outside of Inverness. Last fall, the company said it plans to start a wind farm project in Mexico. A wind turbine spinning for one second produces enough energy to make eight packs of plain or peanut M&M’s, Fast Company reported.
The Fans of Wind campaign site includes information about the company’s renewable energy goals, how wind farms work, how wind power is good for business as well as ways consumers can become more engaged.