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Mars is committed to meeting the water balance at five manufacturing sites that will face the greatest challenges from water stress by 2025

Mars, Incorporated is accelerating action to mitigate the impact on water availability in stressed catchment areas, with a new commitment to meet the water balance at its five production sites, which will face the greatest water stress challenges by 2025.

By achieving a water balance, the company ensures that every liter of water that is used at a site is offset by treating and reusing wastewater and by participating in community water projects that reduce water stress by making more water available in the catchment area is made.

It is because there are currently over 2 billion people in countries with water scarcity. Experts predict that if no action is taken now, more than half of the world’s population will be affected by water stress.

Acknowledging the urgent need for immediate action, Mars is selecting five high priority locations in Mexico that have been identified as the most urgent actions to address common water challenges. These manufacturing operations are responsible for making products for household brands, including pedigree, Whiskas, Snickers, and M & Ms.

Grant Reid, Mars Chief Executive Officer, said, “Around the world, water availability is at a critical point and is being exacerbated by the effects of climate change. It is clear that we all have a critical role to play in reducing our impact on water supplies and protecting the health of global communities.

“At Mars, this includes efforts to eliminate unsustainable water use across our value chain and to take steps to ensure that we mitigate the impact of our operations on regions with high water stress. Working together will be vital and we will work with partners and local communities to make a meaningful impact. “

As part of this, Mars will also implement advanced water stewardship programs to improve water efficiency, achieve water circulation by ensuring that purified wastewater is discharged in a way that reduces stress in the water catchment areas, and working together to to offset the remaining residual water consumption through projects that reduce water stress in the catchment area of ​​the site.

The company plans to expand these programs to a further six production sites in Asia and Africa in the near future.

Mars has joined the Water Resilience Coalition (WRC) of the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, along with over 30 global companies, to make progress on the global water crisis. The aim of the coalition is to increase investments in innovative solutions for the water-climate crisis and to promote joint measures to build up water resistance in regions with high water stress.

This builds on Mars’ existing work with CEO Water Mandate since 2015 to drive progress towards SDG6 (Clean Water & Sanitation). As part of joining the Water Resilience Coalition, Mars will partner with other companies as part of the Charco Bendito Water Stewardship program in central Mexico, which will restore land along waterways essential to water regeneration using collaborative corporate action.

Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and Chief Executive Officer of the Water Mandate, said, “Mars’s commitment to reducing unsustainable water use and ensuring sustainable water supplies for communities, farmers, businesses and the outdoors shows how businesses can put water in theirs Core strategy. By joining the Water Resilience Coalition, Mars recognizes the opportunity for business to advance water resistance strategies in the face of climate change by sharing best practices, accelerating results, and scaling the impact through joint action around the world. “

It builds on the advances Mars is making as part of its multi-billion dollar Sustainable in a Generation Plan to Improve Water Availability and Eliminate Unsustainable Water Use, including its commitment to eradicate unsustainable water use across its value chain, starting with a 50% – igen reduction by 2025.

It does this by mapping total water use across the global supply chain, reducing its impact in highly stressed watersheds, and reshaping its agricultural supply chain by training farmers in sustainable farming practices that increase water efficiency.

This includes the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP), which Mars Food helped create to create a standard for sustainable rice production and to promote climate- and water-friendly rice production methods. As of 2020, Mars Food will source 99% of its rice from farmers who work according to SRP standards.

Similarly, as part of its Shubh Mint program in northern India, Mars has trained over 24,000 farmers in good farming practices – which has helped reduce water needs by 50% while increasing the incomes and livelihoods of farmers in the area by 250% to increase.