SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGIES
Mars has positioned strategic sourcing at the heart of its operations, embedding climate-smart agriculture and human rights into its Sustainable in a Generation plan. The confectionery giant has brought smallholder farmers, millers and NGO partners into a unified longterm strategy.
The company deploys its Supplier Code of Conduct and Next Generation Supplier programme alongside specialised frameworks including Palm Positive and Cocoa for Generations to align partners on deforestation-free targets and living-income standards. Suppliers engage through the EcoVadis assessment platform and the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition coalition.
Mars supports this with Supplier Advance programmes, productivity packages and direct funding for on-site improvements.
The Mars Compass framework has enabled the business to streamline its palm supply chain from 1,500 mills to fewer than 100, creating a more manageable pathway. Logistics partners optimise routes while material suppliers transition to mono-material packaging.
At board level, Mars Compass tracks progress and links executive compensation to carbon reduction targets. This governance structure aims to keep the entire network aligned and maintain downward pressure on Scope 3 emissions across the supply chain.
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