How Mars is Mooving to a More Sustainable Dairy Supply Chain

Mars is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its dairy sourcing through its "Mooving Dairy Forward" plan.

Mars aims to cut emissions across its supply chain, through partnerships with dairy producers and innovative initiatives.

The company will also support regenerative agriculture practices and collaborate with industry partners through initiatives like the Sustainable Dairy Partnership, fostering innovation for a more sustainable future in the dairy industry.

The company relies on more than 200,000 animals to help it make millions of chocolate treats enjoyed around the world. But cows release gases, along with other byproducts of day-to-day cow life — manure and food production — that have an impact on the environment. Dairy is the second-largest contributor to the carbon footprint of the snacking business.

In line with Mars’ 2030 ambition to slash emissions across the entire business by 50%, reducing the carbon footprint of its dairy sourcing.

Partnering with dairy producers

In the dairy supply chain, the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions occur at the farm level. Efforts revolve around collaborating closely with dairy producers to assist farmers in implementing practices or infrastructure changes directly on their farms to mitigate emissions.

Mars is allocating significant financial resources directly to farmers through its supplier contracts to support them in adopting climate-friendly farming practices. US$47m investment over three years - a significant financial backing that is part of the multinational's broader climate cash commitment, totaling US$1bn over the same period.

Through the partnerships it has forged with four major players in the dairy industry: Fonterra, Land O'Lakes, Interfood, and FrieslandCampina, all of whom share the vision for a more sustainable future.

Together, all the parties are investing in comprehensive dairy sustainability initiatives targeting key areas with the highest carbon footprint: enteric methane (emitted through cow burps), manure management, and feed production.

The Dairy Plan

In the quest for a greener tomorrow, the dairy industry faces a monumental challenge: reducing methane emissions from cows, a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Mars has embraced this challenge head-on, pioneering groundbreaking initiatives to revolutionise dairy sustainability.

Burp busting technology: reducing enteric methane emissions

It may surprise you to learn that a single cow emits enough methane through burping to fill around 5,000 balloons annually, weighing approximately 95 kilograms. Recognising the environmental impact, Mars has developed innovative solutions aptly dubbed "burp-busting technology."

Teaming up with leading dairy producers, Mars enhancing feed ingredients, introducing novel components to cows' diets aimed at mitigating methane production. For instance, in Tasmania, a collaboration with Fonterra explores alternative feed options, such as the Seaforest seaweed food supplement, known to significantly decrease methane emissions in cows.

Across the globe, from Poland to the United States, the organisation is spearheading pioneering projects like the Bovaer feed additive initiative, in partnership with industry leaders like Interfood and Mlekovita. These initiatives mark significant strides towards a more sustainable dairy industry.

Sustainable manure management: closing the sustainability loop

The management of cow manure is another critical aspect of dairy sustainability. Untreated manure not only contributes to greenhouse gas emissions but also presents challenges in waste management. The mission, to #NormalizeManureManagement is transforming how dairy farms handle this waste.

Through collaborations with industry giants like Land O'Lakes, it is implementing transformative manure management techniques, such as solid separators and manure lagoon covers, effectively curbing storage emissions. Moreover, in countries like the Netherlands, the partnerships focus on innovative solutions like manure additives and biodigesters, converting waste into renewable energy sources.

Promoting regenerative agriculture: enhancing feed production sustainability

Beyond emissions reduction, sustainability in dairy extends to feed production. Collaborating closely with dairy producers and farmers, they are delving into regenerative agriculture practices. Cover cropping and minimising topsoil disturbance are just a few examples of initiatives aimed at promoting soil health and bolstering carbon storage.

Through these innovative approaches, not only is Mars mitigating the environmental impact of dairy farming but also forging a path towards a more sustainable future for generations to come.

No two farms are the same

Implementing the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on dairy farms is not straightforward, as no two farms are the same - from size to structure, pasture or barn-based and with a range of different soils to grow crops. But Mars is not put off by the challenge and is focused on thinking up solutions to tackle this.

So far, it has supported its supplier DMK on three net-zero pilot farms in Germany, which are focused on implementing and studying proven and new technologies, with the aim to create a pathway to net-zero. This five-year project will test practices on different farm types across the country (e.g., size, soil type, etc.) while evaluating the farmer economics of each practice.

The Sustainable Dairy Partnership

Mars is a founding member of the Sustainable Dairy Partnership, an industry group for dairy buyers and producers which outlines the process for making progress against the Dairy Sustainability Framework’s 11 sustainability criteria. This aims to build a more sustainable world, something which can only be achieved by the entire industry embracing this collaboration to co-create solutions which transcend.

Today, the majority of Mars’ dairy is sourced from producers that are members of the Sustainable Dairy Partnership.

What comes next?

At Mars, the door is always open to collaborate with forward-thinking minds: Entrepreneurs and disruptors that defy the status quo in pioneering new technologies. The company believes that partnerships like these bridge the gap between established expertise and emerging ideas, fostering an environment where innovation thrives. Only together, with new pioneers and long-term partners, can the business forge a path that not only mitigates the impacts of climate change but can also reshape the wider industry for a more sustainable future.

Amanda Davies, Chief R&D Procurement & Sustainability Officer, Mars Snacking, says: “We can forge a path to mitigate the impacts of climate change and reshape our industry for a more sustainable future.”

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