Mars Chocolate Site Achieves Prestigious LEED Gold Certification

Mars Chocolate North America announced today that its new manufacturing facility in Topeka, Kan., has earned LEED Gold certification--an internationally accepted benchmark for designing, constructing, and operating green buildings--from the U.S. Green Building Council. The roughly 500,000-square-foot facility, which opened in March, produces M&M'S Brand Candies and SNICKERS Bars. This accolade represents an additional LEED Gold award for Mars, Incorporated, joining the Mars Chocolate North America corporate headquarters in Hackettstown, N.J., and Mars Petcare's pet food manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, Ark.

"We're proud that this state-of-the-art site engages cutting-edge environmental standards, setting an example for others to follow," said Bret Spangler, Site Director - Topeka, Mars Chocolate North America. "Mars is committed to putting our Principles into Action to drive leadership in sustainability. LEED Gold certification for the Topeka facility is another shining example of our ambitious goal to make our factories and offices 'Sustainable in a Generation.'" Kansas Governor Sam Brownback applauded the accomplishment. "Byworking toward, and achieving LEED Gold Status, Mars Topeka continues to demonstrate its commitment to its workers and our community," said Governor Brownback.  "This is a tremendous achievement and I congratulate them."

To meet the precise requirements to become LEED Gold certified, the Topeka site includes several sustainable systems and features, such as: 100 percent renewable electricity, state-of-the art heat recovery systems, rain water harvesting for sewage transfer in the office area and for landscape irrigation, low-flow water fixtures, energy-efficient lighting, reusing and recycling building materials, use of native grasses without irrigation, and the use of low-emitting local and regional materials.

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