M&M's scores 8 out of 22 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

M&M's Info

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8 out of 22
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Brand Owner: Mars Inc
Head Office: McLean, United States
Sector: Chocolate
Categories: Chocolate Bars
Free Tags: Candy Bars, M and M's, M&Ms, M and Ms, MM's, MMs

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Last Updated: 29 November 2011
Last Verified: 29 November 2011

M&M's Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 5


1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions?	Mars (brand owner of M&M's) has several policy measures to reduce carbon emissions such as reducing its GHG emissions with 25% by 2015 and aiming to cut the GHG emissions from factories and offices to zero % by 2040.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations'?	Own operation (Scope 1 & Scope 2) contribute around 13% of Mars' total GHG emissions. However, Mars does not communicate its carbon footprint on its website.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated the carbon footprint of its own operations by at least 10% in the last 5 years?	See remark for climate change question 2.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	Mars has set a target to reduce only 25% of its GHG emissions by 2015 compared to 2007 which equals a reduction target of approximately only 15% in the next 5 years.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations?	Raw materials and the rest of the value chain contribute to around 87% of Mars' total GHG emissions (see link for climate change question 2). Mars assesses the understanding of the value chain, but does not communicate a policy yet.	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

5 out of 8


1. Has the brand (company) publicly communicated the commitment to use 100% of certified cocoa by 2020?	Mars has set the goal to certify 100% of its cocoa as sustainably produced by 2020.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) purchase cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides, preserve biodiversity, prevent deforestation and reduce water use?	In 2010 Mars bought 16,000 tonnes of certified cocoa (Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified) which is five percent of the total volume purchased.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 25% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides, preserve biodiversity, prevent deforestation and reduce water use?	See remark for environmental policy question 2.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 50% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides, preserve biodiversity, prevent deforestation and reduce water use?	See remark for environmental policy question 2.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) purchase 100% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. reduce the use of chemicals and pesticides, preserve biodiversity, prevent deforestation and reduce water use?	See remark for environmental policy question 2.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) have a policy to purchase its fillings (e.g. nuts, caramel, nougat, praline) and other ingredients (such as milk, sugar, oils and fats) from environmentally sustainable sources?	Mars mentions several ways to improve the sustainability of the production of its filling products, such as joining BonSucro in 2011 and evaluating new roasting operations to reduce energy and water use in the peanut industry. However, it is unclear whether Mars already	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) have the objective to only source sustainable palm oil by 2015 at the latest, and has the brand already purchased sustainable palm oil in order to stop e.g. the destruction of tropical forest for palm oil plantations?	Mars is a member of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and sources only palm oil from RSPO-members, although their product is not necessarily certified. Mars has set a target to use only 100-percent RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil by 2015. In Europe 20% of the supplies is already RSPO-certified.	SOURCE
8. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to reduce the weight, or increase the sustainability of its consumer packaging and does the brand annually report on these results, for public review?	Mars has set several objectives, such as reducing packaging weights by 10 percent by 2015, from a 2007 baseline, regardless of business growth and increasing the level of recycled content in packaging by 10 percent by 2015.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

2 out of 9


1. Does the brand (company) purchase cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the cocoa?	In 2010 Mars bought 16,000 tonnes of certified cocoa (Rainforest Alliance and UTZ Certified) which is five percent of the total volume purchased.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 25% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the cocoa?	See remark for labor conditions question 1.	SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 50% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the cocoa?	See remark for labor conditions question 1.	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) purchase at least 75% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the cocoa?	See remark for labor conditions question 1.	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) purchase 100% cocoa from sources (plantations) that are certified to e.g. have no child labor and no forced labor, and provide a better living standard for the farmers and workers who produce the cocoa?	See remark for labor conditions question 1.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) maintain a published list of cocoa suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume of cocoa?	According to Mars "it is not possible to track cocoa all the way back to an individual farm because certificates are issued to groups of farmers, like cooperatives, rather than individuals."	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) have a policy for the use of fairtrade certified sugar?	Mars intends to joing Bonsucro in 2011. However, it is unclear whether Mars has become a member and concrete objectives are not communicated on the website.	SOURCE
8. Does the brand (company) have the objective to only source sustainable palm oil by 2015 at the latest, and has the brand already purchased sustainable palm oil in order to stop e.g. forced labour and insufficient wages?	Mars is a member of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and sources only palm oil from RSPO-members, although their product is not necessarily certified. Mars has set a target to use only 100-percent RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil by 2015. In Europe 20% of the supplies is already RSPO-certified.	SOURCE
9. Does the brand (company) have a policy for the use of at least fairtrade certified hazelnuts, and also other fillings (e.g. nougat, praline) and ingredients (such as milk, oils and fats)?	Mars does not communicate whether its fillings and/or additional ingredients are from socially certified sources.	SOURCE