Mars Changing How It Does Business One Year From Launch Of $1B Sustainable In A Generation Plan

- - Mars will aim to fix the 'broken' global supply chains through investment, organizational change, a focus on key raw materials and industry collaboration. - Mars leaders will call for industry collaboration at a range of events including speaking engagements during the UN General Assembly/Climate Week NYC, and an interactive exhibit during Climate Week NYC. MCLEAN, Virginia, Sept. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars is changing how it does business—one year from the launch from its 'Sustainable in a Generation' Plan. It comes after Mars CEO Grant F. Reid last year warned that the "global supply chain is broken," and business needed to make a "huge step change" in order to deliver on the climate targets agreed in Paris and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By focusing on what is broken, Mars is exploring how companies can work with governments, NGOs and other stakeholders to create solutions. The company is starting the change in its own supply chains by:   Speaking ahead of the UN General Assembly (UNGA)/Climate Week NY, and on the heels of the Global Client Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, Grant F. Reid said: "I am deeply invested in our plan to change the trajectory around how we do business. We continue to see a range of issues facing our global community – including climate change, poverty, obesity and water stress. Incremental improvement will not be enough. We must take action together. Mars has committed to working with governments, NGOs and industry leadership groups, like the Consumer Goods Forum, to make measurable differences – and to create a healthy planet on which all people can thrive. "Collaboration is critical if we are to accelerate how we address the challenges facing us today." Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer Barry Parkin said: "The transformation of supply chains is necessary across most of the materials we used to call commodities. In fact, I believe we're seeing the end of the commodities era, where materials used to be sourced from largely-unknown origins and bought purely for price on a transactional basis. "The future will require sourcing from known origins and in many cases known farms, with price and sustainability impacts evaluated side by side and generally from longer term partnership arrangements with fewer suppliers. We have started to make this shift." He added: "This first year for us has been about accelerating what is already working starting with the transformation of our raw material supply chain, building critical partnerships and testing new approaches. The next few years will see a significant scaling up of our activity and impact on the ground." The commitment is to be brought to life with a program of events in September. The program of coordinated activities during September reflects Mars' sustainability commitments and ambitions. It includes: About Mars, IncorporatedMars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With more than $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN'S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day. For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.     Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/745991/Mars.mp4Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/745988/Mars_Cocoa_Harvest_Cote_d_Ivoire.jpgPhoto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/745989/Mars_Vanilla_Preparation_Centre_Madagascar.jpg