Mars, the maker of Snickers and M&M’s, said it has switched all 10 of its European snacking factories to renewable energy and signed its first U.S. clean power deals, marking a major step toward its 2050 net-zero target.
The factories, spread across six countries including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, now run on renewable energy. They produce about 900,000 tonnes of popular brands each year, of which 85 percent are consumed locally.
The achievement follows €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) invested in modernizing the company’s European operations over the past five years. Mars first invested in a European wind farm in 2016 and has since converted all confectionery sites in the region to renewable electricity.
To cover residual demand, Mars also bought Guarantees of Origin certificates for renewable electricity and biomethane. The transition supports its goal of cutting emissions across the supply chain.
Marc Carena, regional president for Mars Wrigley, said sustainability is central to the business. “Sustainability makes good business sense and is at the heart of our strategy,” he said.
US Partnership with Enel
In a parallel move, Mars announced contracts with Enel North America to launch its “Renewable Acceleration” program. The deals cover 1.8 terawatt-hours of solar power annually, enough to avoid around 700,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
The contracts represent Enel’s largest-ever global power purchase agreement with a corporate client. The partnership will supply energy from three new solar plants in Texas, where Enel will use sheep grazing to manage vegetation.
“Mars is raising the bar for corporate sustainability strategies,” said Michele Di Murro, CEO of Enel North America. “This initiative builds new capacity and addresses emissions across the entire value chain.”
Full Value Chain Coverage
Mars said Renewable Acceleration extends beyond its factories to cover suppliers, logistics, and even consumer energy use. The initiative aims to cut 10 percent of the company’s global carbon footprint by 2030, equivalent to about 3 million tonnes.
Direct operations consume about 2 TWh of power each year, similar to the annual demand of The Bahamas. With suppliers and customers included, usage climbs to as much as 9 TWh, equivalent to Estonia.
Kevin Rabinovitch, global vice president of sustainability at Mars, said the strategy creates scale. “It lets us bring demand for all the electricity used in our value chain to the clean energy market in a highly efficient manner,” he said.
Broader Sustainability Goals
The company, which generates approximately $55 billion in annual revenue, plans to invest an additional €1 billion in Europe by 2026. The renewable energy shift is part of Mars’ wider strategy to decarbonize, which also includes addressing deforestation, promoting climate-resilient farming and enhancing transportation.
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