Mars, Incorporated Joins Call To Value And Maintain The Earth's Natural Capital

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• Publié par: mars-incorporated
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

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Mars, Incorporated Joins Call To Value And

Maintain The Earth's Natural Capital

PR Newswire

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 15, 2012

- One of the world's leading food manufacturers to become signatory of The

Leadership Compact at Rio +20

RIO DE JANEIRO

,

June 15, 2012

/PRNewswire/ -- Mars, Incorporated announced

today that it has become a signatory of The Leadership Compact convened by

The University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership – a

statement of intent signed by global business leaders, committing to value and

maintain the Earth's natural capital. The Leadership Compact, which will be

signed by Mars, Incorporated ahead of the United Nation's Conference on

Sustainable Development – Rio +20 – seeks to draw mutual agreement from

business leaders, whilst simultaneously urging international governments to

align economic development with the responsible and sustainable use of

natural resources.

Rio+20 will be attended by Andrew Hobday, chief sustainability officer, Mars,

Incorporated where historically world leaders join with government participants,

NGOs and the private sector to define pathways to a safer, cleaner and greener

world for all. In 2012, the conference will focus on two themes: a green

economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication

and secondly, the institutional framework for sustainable development.

"Society is facing grand challenges across climate change, food security and

economic & social development that also affect Mars. We believe we have a

responsibility to work with others in addressing these issues," commented

Hobday, in response to Mars' decision to sign The Leadership Compact. "Our

size and global reach mean that our commitment to sustainable development

can have real and lasting impacts and indeed we have practical, mutually

beneficial reasons for pursuing corporate sustainability."

Alongside Mars, Incorporated, signatories to the Leadership Compact to date

include Nestle, Unilever, ASDA Walmart, AngloAmerican and Puma. By signing

the statement, businesses are pledging to:

Operate within the limits of natural systems

Identify and address externalities (un-costed impacts on people and the environment

from the production and consumption of products and services)

Enable consumers to make better-informed choices

Develop rigorous and realistic targets and plans

As outlined in its

Principles in Action Summary

, Mars is working on strategies

and targets for social and environmental impacts in all areas of its value chain

and operations. In the field of operations, where the business has direct

control, Mars is committed to achieving zero fossil-fuel energy use, and zero

greenhouse-gas emissions by 2040, and is developing similar commitments for

waste and water use.

"Our commitment to sustainability is serious and long term," commented

Hobday. "Our determination to positively contribute to our environment is

critical to the way we do business at Mars – this includes our supply chain,

brands and operations. Given the scale of the global challenges we face, it's

hugely important that Mars, as a diverse and global business, joins the

conversation at Rio+20 and seeks collaborative resolutions that are both

meaningful and future-proof."

In tandem with signing The Leadership Compact, Hobday will also appear as a

panelist at three Rio+20 conferences, including:

"If Sustainability was a business, how would it be run?" on 16 June Sponsored by

COSA/UN Global Impact. Hobday will be a member of the panel discussing how to

build support and collaboration for the launch of a global, shared approach to the impact

assessment and monitoring of sustainability standards through the adoption of common

indicators and reporting standards using the Committee on Sustainability Assessment

(COSA) framework.

"Driving Business Value through Sustainability" on 17 June sponsored by World

Resources Institute and the Forum for the Future. Hobday will be a member of the panel

talking about the business case for sustainability in their respective companies and how

innovative and proactive strategies for sustainability management create value and

reduce risks in the value chain.

"Natural Capital in the Big Picture" on 19 June sponsored by the Natural Capital

Declaration. Hobday will be a member of the panel discussing the private sector,

governments, civil society and scientific community could collaborate post Rio+20 to

expedite implementation of the various commitments on natural capital accounting in a

comparable, synergetic, transparent and effective way to deliver wellbeing and

prosperity for a growing global population without restraining sustainable growth.

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

1920's, 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 philosophy of a

"mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders – this vision serves as the foundation

of the Mars, Incorporated we are today. Based in

McLean, Virginia

, Mars has

net sales of more than

$30 billion

, six business segments including Petcare,

Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and approximately 70,000

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®,

KITEKAT®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital 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™, WISDOM

PANEL™ and SERAMIS®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us:

facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars.

To learn more about Rio+20, please visit

http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20