Mars pledges to achieve water balance in high water stressed operations by 2025

The company aims to achieve water balance by matching every litre of water used at the five water-stressed sites with treated and reused wastewater.

Mars aims to achieve water balance at the sites facing the greatest challenges in stressed watershed areas including Guadalajara, Montemorelos, Queretaro, Santa Catarina, and Toluca.

These water-stressed sites manufacture products for large brands including Pedigree, Whiskas, Snickers, and M&Ms.

The global food giant also plans to engage in collaborative water projects that reduce water stress by making water more readily available in the watershed.

Currently 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries, but if no action is taken experts predict this will rise to half of the world’s population by 2050.

Grant Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Mars, said: “Across the world, water availability is at a crisis point, and it’s being exacerbated by the effects of climate change. It’s clear we all have a critical part to play in mitigating our impact on water supplies, and to protect the health of global communities.”

“At Mars, this includes working to eliminate unsustainable water use across our entire value chain and taking action to ensure we mitigate the impact of our operations on high water-stressed regions.  Collaboration will be key and we’ll work with partners and local communities to deliver meaningful impact.”

To achieve this, Mars is developing water-stewardship programmes to improve water efficiency, achieve water circularity, and balance remaining residual water use.

Mars plans to expand these programmes to six more manufacturing sites in Asia and Africa in the future. Additionally, Mars has partnered with over 30 global businesses by joining the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate’s Water Resilience Coalition in efforts to accelerate progress to tackle the global water crisis.

The coalition aims to raise investments for water-climate crisis solutions and strengthen collective action towards building water resilience in high water-stressed regions.

Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and Head of the CEO Water Mandate said: “Mars’ commitment to reducing unsustainable water use and helping secure a sustainable supply of water for communities, farmers, business and nature illustrates how companies can integrate water into their core strategy.”

“By joining the Water Resilience Coalition, Mars recognizes the business community's opportunity to drive water resilience strategies in the face of climate change by sharing best practices, accelerating results and scaling impact through collective action around the world.”

This programme is a part of Mars’ multi-billion dollar Sustainable in a Generation Plan to improve water availability and eliminate unsustainable water use in its value chain, with the current goal of reducing unsustainable water use by 50% by 2025.