What would you do if you had 1 billion dollars? Your list will probably include a new house, trip around the world, starting your own business. What would you answer if we put a condition – the money should be spent on tackling a global problem. Which one will you address – climate change, poverty, inequity? The world has been facing a number of challenges long before the COVID-19 outbreak and the only way to solve them is the joint efforts of all parties involved – governments, business, NGOs and individuals.

Maybe you are still wondering what the relation between global problems and 1 billion dollars is. This is the sum one of the largest food producers in the world Mars, Inc. is investing in the next few years to make progress towards serious global challenges. The company has more than a 100-year history and produces some of the most iconic global brands such as Snickers, Twix, M&M’s, Orbit, Skittles, Uncle Ben’s, Pedigree, Whiskas and many others. In 2017, Mars launched an ambitious plan, called Sustainable in a Generation Plan that navigates the company’s efforts in 3 main directions - Healthy Planet, Thriving People and Nourishing Wellbeing. Mars is entirely transforming the way it is doing business and sets an example for the whole industry.

From replacing plastic packaging with eco-friendly materials, to advancing global research on critical food safety challenges, to rethinking where and how we buy our raw materials, the producer is constantly introducing innovations in order to drive positive changes for people and the planet. All actions of the company are scientifically based and are fully in accordance with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

One of the main pillars of Mars’s sustainable plan is Healthy planet. The company is trying to improve its impact on environment not only by optimizing its direct operations, but also by changing its entire value chain (from farms to factories to family tables). After a thorough scientific research, the food producer has clear goals and knows the concrete steps to achieve them. Mars is planning to reduce its virgin plastic use by 25%, to make 100% of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 and to reduce its direct Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through renewable energy and energy efficiency. The company can report some very good results in this regard – reducing the water use with almost 20%, removing PVC from the packaging, using only solar and wind energy for the production sites in sites in the USA, UK, Mexico and Belgium

Thriving people is another key direction of Mars’s sustainable plan. The company is striving to improve the lives of 1 million people in its value chain by providing opportunities to enhance their livelihoods and by respecting their human rights. One of the key goals here is increasing the farmers’ income and providing them with access to innovative technologies. 108 000 people have been included in this program so far. Women are also in the focus of Mars’s plan. The food producer has engaged 17 000 ladies involved in cocoa and mint supply chains in empowerment programs, which has resulted in boosting their savings rates and entrepreneurial skills.

It is not a surprise that the third pillar of Mars’s sustainable plan is Nourishing wellbeing. The company is strongly focused on introducing technologies and optimizing its marketing activities to help billions of people and their pets live healthier and happier. The producer has committed to deliver 1 billion more healthy meals on dinner tables around the world. This goal has almost been accomplished with 991 million meals delivered so far. The company is trying to contribute to the industry’s development, as conducting various researches on important food safety matters at its Mars Global Food Safety Center. Together with partners, it is working on a sophisticated fingerprinting method to validate food authenticity—a potential game changer for keeping food safe and minimizing waste.

So, we see that one 1 billion dollars can “buy” a lot and can make so many positive changes. However, what is more important than the numbers is the energy of so many people around the world (in Mars’s case – 130 000 associates in 80 countries), who are determined to make a positive impact and to create a better tomorrow for the future generations. Sustainability is not an unfamiliar word for the business anymore. It has evolved to a way of work and a long-term commitment. In this line of thoughts, it would be good if every individual think about their impact and try to make a positive change, as the big goals could be achieved with many small steps.