British Mars bars set to be certified carbon neutral by 2023

This move will make the Mars bar, which has UK annual sales of over 200 million, the first carbon neutral chocolate bar to appear on British and Irish shelves that is produced by a big manufacturer.

The new pledge, that also includes Mars bars sold in Canada, represents tangible climate action less than a month after Mars, Incorporated, Mars Wrigley’s parent company, announced its commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain by 2050.

Mars Wrigley said it is also committed to reducing the Mars bar carbon footprint by over 20% in the UK and Ireland by 2023. 

Cocoa farms

In an effort to sustainably transform its supply chain agricultural practices, Mars Wrigley will start including satellite data to geomap cocoa farms and implement accelerated partnerships with suppliers to produce dairy more sustainably.

Mars Wrigley UK has also announced that the Mars bar will be trialled in fully recyclable paper packaging starting in 2022.

Adam Grant, Mars Wrigley UK General Manager said: “At Mars, we believe that actions speak louder than words and, to create a world tomorrow where our planet is healthy, we are clear that bold action must be taken today. Our pledge to deliver a certified carbon neutral Mars bar in the UK and Ireland by January 1st, 2023, supported by significant reductions in the near term, is the kind of immediate climate protection intervention needed to deliver a sustainable tomorrow​.”