Mars Participates In Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting And Climate Week NYC

MCLEAN, VA, September 26, 2014 /3BL Media/ --- Mars, Incorporated representatives have this week attended the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting and Climate Week NYC to discuss Mars’ commitments to address some of the global challenges the business shares with society.

Mars’ Chief Agricultural Officer Howard Yana-Shapiro participated in a CGI 2014 breakout session with Maria Jose Gonzales, Executive Director, Mesoamerican Reef Fund, titled “How can smallholder farmers and fishers increase their economic opportunities?” The session included a short moderated discussion and an opportunity to address the current problems faced by smallholder farmers and fishers, the ability to create a sustainable livelihood, and what long-term sustainability and the journey to achieve it looks like. During the session, Howard referenced Mars’ approach to sustainability by highlighting the power of uncommon collaborations to solve these challenges, including Mars’ efforts in the African Orphan Crops Consortium and Mars’ work in the CocoaAction program to help no fewer than 300,000 West African framers to increase productivity and support community development. 

On the opening day of Climate Week NYC, Monday September 22, Mars’ Global Sustainability Director Kevin Rabinovitch represented the business and attended the launch of “RE100” to an invited audience of 300 political and business leaders, including Secretary Kerry and UNSG Ban Ki-Moon. The event took place on the eve of the UN Climate Summit. RE100 is a new campaign initiated by The Climate Group (an International NGO) that includes Mars and other member companies, such as IKEA, Swiss Re and H&M, that either have committed or will commit to 100% renewable power. Joining this coalition builds on Mars’ goal to be Sustainable in a Generation, which includes a target for the private, family-owned business to eliminate all fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from its direct operations by 2040. To date, Mars has made great efforts to reduce a quarter of its carbon footprint though its investment in the building of Mesquite Creek Wind farm in Texas, which will generate energy from renewable sources equivalent to the electricity requirements of its entire U.S. operations.

As a part of the “RE 100” launch, Kevin Rabinovitch participated in a Twitter chat (#CSRChat) with The Climate Group, Ikea and others to discuss the coalition and climate change. The transcript of the chat can be viewed on Twitter at #CSRChat and a few excerpts from the conversation can be found below. ✔

@MarsGlobal

A1a Climate science is clear, action is needed and companies have an important role to play #CSRChat

4:33 PM - 25 Sep 2014

A5a: A leading group of companies committing to 100% renewable power. We made that commitment in 2010… (cont.) #CWNYC #csrchat

4:48 PM - 25 Sep 2014

A5b: ...this campaign gives us the opportunity to amplify our impact by bringing others to the same place. #CWNYC #CSRChat

A7b: Government action is essential and must be designed to fit both the science and other societal objectives. #CWNYC #CSRChat #RE100

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars’ first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar.  In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders” – this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M’S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN’S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

For more information about Mars, Incorporated, please visit mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/Mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars