GHG Emissions, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  June 1, 2018

Mars goes 100% RE in Australia

Mars, Inc. has announced the purchase of solar energy to deliver 100% of the electricity needed to power its Australian operations by 2020. The global confectionary company signed a PPA with Total Eren for the 200 MW Kiamal Solar Farm in Victoria, which will provide power to match the needs of its six Australian factories and two sales offices.

A statement from The Climate Group noted that the announcement "comes in the wake of volatile power prices in Australia, and as more and more Australian businesses choose to source cheaper renewable electricity to the benefit of their bottom line." 

"The rise in electricity prices last year accelerated our plans to join Mars sites in the US, UK, and 9 other countries in moving to renewable electricity, said Barry O’Sullivan of Mars Australia. “We acted quickly because the price volatility of energy in Australia made renewables the best option for our business, in addition to getting us closer to our commitment to eliminate greenhouse gasses from our operations by 2040." Mars is a member of RE 100 

Mars, Inc. is already using or purchasing renewable electricity to cover all of its operations in Belgium, Brazil, Lithuania, the UK and the US. The company also aims to reduce GHG emissions by 67% across its entire supply chain by 2040.

“Last year we announced we’re spending a billion dollars in the next three years to start transforming our supply chain to get those impact reductions,” said Kevin Rabinovitch, vp of sustainability at Mars Global, who added, “We’ve made solid progress on the sustainability of our own operations since 2007, so now we’re in a good position to accelerate work and share lessons with our supply chain partners as we tackle impacts beyond our own operations.”

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