Mars Wrigley has announced that from next year, 100% of the cocoa purchased for its direct European operations will be verified as responsibly sourced.
The commitment will cover the confectionary manufacturers brands including Galaxy, Maltesers, Mars, M&Ms, Milky Way and Snickers.
This comes as part of the company’s Cocoa for Generations Strategy which looks to deliver lasting positive changes across its supply chain through taking action to achieve goals such as preserving forests and improving farmer income.
By the end of 2021, 61% of Mars Wrigley’s cocoa was sourced through its Responsible Cocoa program and 44% of its global supply was traceable to farm boundaries from first point of purchase.
“Achieving 100% responsibly sourced cocoa for our European factories will be a huge milestone for the business,” Mars Wigley Europe, CIS and Turkey vice president procurement, Benjamin Guilbert said.
“Cocoa is key to our global chocolate brands and to the livelihoods of an estimated 350,000 cocoa farmers in our supply chain. As one of the world’s largest buyers of cocoa, we have a responsibility to help drive positive, long-lasting, systemic impact to support the farmers and communities in our supply chain.”
Mars Wrigley Global senior director of human rights and social impact, Inge Jacobs added: “We know there is much more work to be done, but we are determined to continue working in collaboration with key partners to create a modern, inclusive, and sustainable cocoa supply chain – one where the environment is protected, human rights are respected, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
