THE PROCUREMENT INTERVIEW
Taking the long view Mars’ approach to emissions reduction reflects the company’ s distinctive ownership structure and long-term orientation. Unlike publicly traded companies subject to quarterly earnings pressures, Mars thinks in terms of generations, tracking progress against ambitious long-term goals: a 50 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030( from a 2015 baseline) and net zero by 2050.
“ We’ re investing in science and technology today that will have an impact in five, 10, 20 years time and measuring the impact along the way,” says Amanda.
The company’ s achievements across scopes 1, 2 and 3 have been driven by multiple initiatives: expanded climate-smart agriculture programmes, deforestation-free supply chain efforts, rapid transition to renewable electricity, enhanced energy efficiency and advanced thermal energy programmes in direct operations. In 2024, Mars also made significant enhancements to its climate accounting methodology to provide more accurate, transparent and inclusive emissions reporting.
Overcoming data and participation challenges One of the persistent challenges in Scope 3 emissions reduction is obtaining accurate data from diverse suppliers, many of which may lack sophisticated measurement systems or face competing priorities. Rather than imposing top-down requirements,
Amanda emphasises the importance of understanding supplier realities and co-creating solutions.
“ This involves going straight to the source, hearing first-hand from procurement partners and getting in the field with farmers to better understand what the needs are and what it takes to adopt new technologies, data measurement, etc.,” she explains.
This ground-level engagement yields practical insights that deskbased analysis cannot provide, enabling Mars to design support programmes that address real barriers rather than imagined obstacles.“ This week I sat with one of the largest dairy suppliers,
28 November 2025