Mars ties U.S. renewables to value chain, invests €1B in EU plants

Mars Inc. is pushing its sustainability strategy forward with U.S. clean-energy contracts and a significant investment in European manufacturing.

In the U.S., Mars signed agreements with Enel North America to buy power from three Texas solar plants. The sites are expected to produce 1.8 terawatt-hours of electricity a year, cutting about 700 kilotonnes of CO₂ emissions.

The deals launch Mars’ new Renewable Acceleration program, which aims to cover not just its factories but the electricity used across farms, suppliers, distributors and even consumer use of its products. Mars expects the program to help reduce its total carbon footprint by 10% by 2030, when compared to a 2015 baseline.

“Renewable Acceleration is a performance accelerator, cutting emissions at a scale and speed we could never achieve through traditional value chain engagement approaches,” said Kevin Rabinovitch, global vice president of sustainability at Mars.

In Europe, Mars plans to spend approximately $1.173 billion (€1 billion) by the end of 2026 to modernize 24 factories across 10 countries. The funding builds on the approximately $1.76 billion (€1.5 billion) invested over the past five years.

Highlights include a $293 million (€250 million) expansion of its chocolate factory in Janaszówek, Poland, boosting capacity 63%, and upgrades to French sites, including an ice cream plant now running on 100% renewable electricity. Mars is also targeting methane reduction in its dairy supply chain with a $47 million Moo’ving Dairy Forward plan.

CFO Claus Aagaard said the goal is to “build a stronger, more resilient business in Europe … delivering more innovation to consumers, delivering value for thousands of our European suppliers, and creating lasting, positive impacts in the communities where we operate.”