Mars achieves 100% renewable energy across European snacking factories

EUROPE – Mars has announced that all ten of its Mars Snacking factories in Europe are now fully powered by renewable energy, marking a major sustainability milestone for the global food company.

The achievement follows years of sustained investment into Mars’ European manufacturing footprint, including €1.5 billion (US$1.76 billion) invested over the past five years. 

The journey began in 2016 when Mars opened its first European wind farm. Over the past decade, the company has gradually transitioned all of its confectionery manufacturing sites across the continent to renewable electricity. 

In addition to direct investments in reducing and converting energy consumption, Mars has also purchased Guarantees of Origin (GO) certificates for renewable electricity and biomethane, equivalent to the amount of electricity and natural gas used in its confectionery operations in Europe.

The ten factories, located across the Czech Republic, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the UK, collectively produce around 900,000 tonnes of confectionery annually. 

Among the best-known brands manufactured are SNICKERS®, TWIX®, M&M’S®, SKITTLES®, and ORBIT/EXTRA®. 

Approximately 85% of this output is consumed locally within Europe, highlighting the regional significance of this energy transition.

“At Mars, we believe that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today,” said Marc Carena, Regional President for Mars Wrigley.

“We measure success not only by financial results, but also by the positive impact we have on people, the planet, and society. Sustainability makes good business sense and is at the heart of our strategy. We are committed to ensuring that today’s actions create lasting benefits for future generations,” Marc added.

This milestone marks a significant step on Mars’ global journey toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

It also demonstrates the company’s broader commitment to building modern, energy-efficient infrastructure to support consumer-driven innovation, economic growth, and resilience across the region. 

Mars has pledged an additional €1 billion (approximately US$1.17 billion) by the end of 2026 to further these efforts.

Beyond Europe, Mars is advancing global renewable energy transitions. 

In the United States, the company recently partnered with Enel to accelerate access to renewable electricity, further underscoring its long-term strategy to power operations worldwide with clean energy.

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