By Susan Baldani
Many companies today are taking into account the impact their business practices are having on the environment and trying to find solutions that support sustainable growth. One company that has taken this to heart is Mars. A family-owned business that has operations around the globe, they have devised a plan that can improve the world now and in the future.
Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation Plan, launched in September of 2017, is focused on business practices that support the planet and have a positive social impact. In order to do this, they have chosen to apply their five principals – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – along with scientific findings to tackle the challenges of climate change, scarcity of resources and poverty throughout their agricultural supply chains.
According to the company, “Mars has aimed to act as a good corporate citizen, minimize our impact on the environment and use the natural resources of our planet wisely and efficiently. Mars has always sought to create mutual benefits for our business and the people and communities whose lives we touch.”
They have identified three pillars that are essential drivers of sustainable growth:
Healthy Planet – with the goal of reducing our environmental impacts in line with what science says is necessary to keep the planet healthy, focusing on climate action, water stewardship and land management.
Thriving People – with the goal of meaningfully improving the working lives of one million people in our value chain to enable them to thrive, focusing on increasing income, respecting human rights and unlocking opportunities for women.
Nourishing Wellbeing – with the goal of advancing science, innovation and marketing in ways that help billions of people and their pets lead healthier, happier lives.
One example of this philosophy is The Better Cities For Pets™ program. Piloted in Franklin, TN, in 2017, it assists cities in becoming pet-friendly, thus allowing for more people to reap the benefits of pet ownership. Their four focus areas are shelters, homes, parks and businesses.
Thanks to a coordinated effort between the Downtown Franklin Association and the Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, more than 90 businesses have taken part by having a shared pet code of conduct, consistent signage and in-store education. The city also now has pet waste stations which encourages visitors to bring their pets with them.
Mars US Petcare, currently headquartered in Franklin, will be moving to a new location in town within the year. According to the company, the new corporate office will rely on windmill energy production to compensate for 25% of the facilities’ energy consumption. The new building will also be LEED certified. And all of their Petcare facilities are zero-waste to landfill locally, not just in Franklin.
Making these changes hasn’t been easy, but Mars feels that new, innovative approaches are needed to mitigate the myriad of problems facing the environment. Of course, it also takes cooperation from others to put these ideas into action, so they’re continually building new partnerships and action-oriented coalitions to find breakthrough solutions to sustainable growth.
According to Mars, “We’re focused on implementing changes in a way that has a positive benefit not just for Mars but for the communities where our associates live and work, and for society at large.”
Written for Franklin Lifestyle in Franklin, TN
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