Mars Targets Segregated Global Cocoa Supply Chain by 2030

Mars, a global provider of snacking, food, and pet care products, has announced its goal to establish a physically segregated global cocoa supply chain by 2030. This initiative builds on the company’s commitment to using only responsibly sourced cocoa in its products, aiming to enhance transparency across its cocoa supply chain.

Mars relies on more than 350,000 farmers worldwide for its cocoa supply. Cocoa sourcing is often linked to sustainability challenges, including deforestation, ecosystem degradation, climate change, and human rights issues such as child labor, forced labor, and poverty. By implementing a segregated supply chain, Mars intends to ensure that the cocoa used in its products originates exclusively from farms that are part of the Mars Responsibly Sourced Cocoa Program or meet certification standards from organizations such as Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance.

The transition to a segregated supply chain will enable Mars to gain greater visibility into its suppliers, farming organizations, and farmers, allowing the company to provide targeted support to address human rights and environmental concerns. The initiative is an extension of Mars’ Responsibly Sourced Cocoa Program, which seeks to make 100% of its cocoa responsibly sourced and traceable to the first point of purchase.

Over the next five years, Mars plans to collaborate with cocoa suppliers to physically separate cocoa that meets its standards from other sources. This includes ensuring that cocoa processed into ingredients remains segregated and that these segregated ingredients are delivered exclusively to Mars factories for use in its chocolate and other products.

Harper McConnell, Global Vice President of Cocoa Sustainability at Mars, stated, “The move to a segregated global cocoa supply chain is a significant undertaking that builds on our years of investment in our responsibly sourced cocoa program. It will enable us to target interventions providing more focused support for cocoa-growing communities in our supply chain. This ambition is part of a holistic, long-term approach by Mars to contribute towards the development of a modern, inclusive, and sustainable cocoa ecosystem around the globe.”

This initiative follows Mars’ 2018 announcement of a $1 billion investment in its ‘Cocoa for Generations’ strategy. The program, set to run through 2028, aims to tackle environmental challenges, including deforestation, and supports the company’s broader sustainability goals. These include achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050 and halving emissions by 2030.