Zero waste to landfill

Mars Inc. achieves zero waste to landfill

Mars Inc., McLean, Virginia, announced it achieved its goal of zero waste to landfill for all 126 of its global locations as well as accomplishing seven of its 16 sustainability targets in 2015.

According to its most recent sustainability report, all waste from the locations is recycled, reused or used a fuel on-site.

Four Wrigley factories—in Asquith, Australia; Bangalore, India; Plymouth, England; and Poznan, Poland—have reached their zero-waste-to-landfill goal through a variety of methods. In Poznan, excess gum waste is cut and mixed with other materials and used as fuel, and leftover sweeteners are purified and used as an energy source for manufacturing.

In Asquith, disposable solid waste is sent to an off-site bioreactor—the resulting methane is harnessed to generate alternative energy, which is directed back into the electricity grid.

The report outlines progress made in 2015 related to sustainability across its business segments, including petcare, chocolate, Wrigley, food, drinks and symbioscience.

Highlights from Mars’ 2015 Principles in Action Summary include:

• Sustainability – Mars reduced greenhouse gas emissions in its operations by 25 percent from a 2007 baseline and sent zero waste to landfill at all 126 of its manufacturing sites globally.
• Food safety – Mars opened a Global Food Safety Center in China in 2015 and is pioneering global research in food safety by partnering with others in the food industry, academia, nongovernmental organizations and government agencies.
• Health and wellbeing – Provided Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labeling on 99 percent of all chocolate, confectionary and food products.