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Mars Wrigley, the manufacturer of well-loved brands Doublemint®, Juicy Fruit®, and Cool Air® is transforming its business to embed sustainable practices in its operations as it continues to inspire more moments of everyday happiness amongst its employees, communities, and consumers. In fact, its Antipolo factory has a new biomass boiler, a thermal renewable energy source that helps the plant in making progress towards its net zero ambition by 2050.
“At Mars Wrigley, our purpose is to inspire moments of everyday happiness. To achieve this, we need a healthy planet where people can thrive. This is why we are proud to introduce a thermal renewable energy source to our plant making our daily operations more sustainable so people can enjoy our products knowing they are made with the environment in mind,” shares Fernando del Castillo, Mars Wrigley Antipolo Factory Director.
Positive impact of renewable energy on environment and local communities
Mars Wrigley’s new biomass boiler reduces the plant’s carbon emissions by approximately 679 tons as it allows the Antipolo factory to move away from using diesel as their source of thermal energy and transition to using rice husk as its renewable energy source.
The biomass boiler sources its fuel from rice husks “ipa” or coconut shells sourced and collected from the farmers of the nearby communities, which contributes to a cleaner air in the environment and at the same time enhances the livelihood of such farmers in the Antipolo community.
“Actually nakakaproud kasi napabilang ka dito sa company na ‘to na may mga programang ganito na hitting two birds with one stone na nakakapagproduce ka ng output na target mo [and] at the same time nakakatulong ka sa environment na mapangalagaan ito (It makes me proud to be a part of a company with sustainability programs like this. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone. You’re able to produce your target output and at the same time help in taking care of the environment.),” says Athan Encanto, Utilities Team Lead of Mars Wrigley Antipolo Factory.
“Nakakatulong na tayo sa iba and meron pa tayong panibagong naeendorse na projects na makakatulong sa generation na susunod sa atin (We are able to help others today and at the same time endorse new projects that will help the next generation),” shares Emil Cerrero, Maintenance Shift Lead.
Progressing towards a healthier planet for future generations
Mars Wrigley’s initiatives are part of the larger Mars Sustainable in a Generation Plan in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The roadmap aims to guide Mars in delivering science-based solutions that will significantly reduce its overall impact on the environment.
“Mars is a global company and it has a global commitment to support sustainability. And at Mars Wrigley Antipolo, I think we are one step closer to living up to our purpose that in the world we want tomorrow, the planet is healthy,” shares Nica Aguila, Industrial Engineering and Supply Excellence Manager.
According to the Mars Sustainable in a Generation Plan 2022 Scorecard, Mars has reduced the GHG emissions of its full value chain by 8%, compared to its 2015 baseline. The company owes this milestone to various sustainability actions including innovations that help its plants across the world to transition away from fossil-fuel heat sources. With the introduction of a thermal renewable energy source in the Mars Wrigley Antipolo factory, the global company is progressing towards achieving its net zero ambition by 2050.
“Here at Mars, the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. In the world we want tomorrow, the planet is healthy. I’m extremely proud of this project and the work that this team has done to bring the biomass boiler initiative project here in Antipolo and the long-lasting positive impact that we’ll have on the planet for future generations,” remarks del Castillo.
