Mars Incorporated, a world leader in confectionery, announced that a new sustainability inspired chocolate experience, CO2COA, is joining the family of snacks and treats that includes M&M'S, Snickers, Skittles and Extra Gum.
Mars partnered with Perfect Day Inc. to launch the company's first-ever earth-friendly and animal-free chocolate innovation in the U.S.
According to the announcement, the name CO2COA is a thoughtful way to pay homage to its Rainforest Alliance-Certified cocoa and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in product sourcing. This innovation provides consumers with an earth-friendly, animal-free, and lactose-free chocolate experience and is the latest sustainability-inspired innovation from Mars. CO2COA maintains the silky-smooth taste consumers expect while leaning into the flexitarian dietary trends today's conscious consumers are embracing. Mars CO2COA sources Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa and uses Perfect Day animal-free dairy protein, making it entirely free from lactose and cholesterol while wrapped in paper-based packaging.
"At Mars, we bring our consumer-passion to innovation, developing on-trend innovations that support a world where both people and the planet thrive," Chris Rowe, global vice president of research and development, Mars Wrigley, said in the announcement. "The creation of CO2COA is an inventive example of how we partner with technology innovators, like Perfect Day, to bring great new offerings to our consumers. We're excited to collaborate with Perfect Day and continuing to explore the potential of alternative proteins to help create a more delicious and sustainable future."
Perfect Day has created the world's first nature-identical dairy protein, without any animal inputs. A recent lifecycle assessment found that their precision fermentation process uses up to 99% less water and produces up to 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, compared to traditional production methods. By partnering with leaders in the food system, like Mars, who are innovating to use less of earth's resources, Perfect Day is broadening that impact for a kinder, greener tomorrow.
"Partnering with a forward-looking leader like Mars to accelerate their innovation and sustainability initiatives is a hallmark example of how we're extending our impact," Ryan Pandya, Perfect Day cofounder and CEO, said in the announcement. "Today, companies big and small need to deliver on the needs of their consumers, who won't compromise on taste or the future of our planet. We're thrilled to help a world-class company like Mars do just that as we champion a path towards a more resilient food system for all."
Alastair Child, chief sustainability officer, Mars Wrigley, added in the announcement: "CO2COA is another example of how Mars continues to think and act differently to help create the world we want tomorrow. From certified cocoa and a reduction in CO2 emissions to animal-free dairy, CO2COA was thoughtfully designed as we work to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Mars' full value chain by 2050."
The Mars CO2COA innovation will be available for purchase at www.co2coa.com while supplies last.
