We understand that our company's social, environmental and economic values and practices impact where we do business and how we operate, particularly given the scope and scale of the global environmental challenges.

We recognize that our long-term economic growth is inter-linked with our ability to adhere to the definition of sustainability produced by the “UN World Commission on Environment and Development” in 1987. It defined sustainability as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Based on the foundation of our Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - we believe that our commitment to sustainability builds on our long-standing ethical commitment to the individual and the larger community. Our fundamental belief is that the only lasting success is a shared success, and this means success across the social, economic and environmental spectrum.

Sustainability and The Five Principles

We believe The Five Principles set us apart from other companies. The essential values that they embody define our company’s philosophy and approach to how we operate. Sustainability flows naturally and directly from our Principles and will continue to shape how we think and act.

Quality

The Quality Principle states, “The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal.” Beyond the traditional aspects that still matter greatly, such as price and value for money, consumers around the world are expanding their definition of quality to include sustainability. Mars will ensure our own growth and success, as always, by emphasizing quality as the basis of lasting relationships with our customers and consumers.

Providing our products in a manner that meets this new broader definition of quality will help such products fulfill our and their aspirations while seeking to enable commerce, society and nature to grow and thrive together.

Responsibility

At Mars, we seek to make responsibility a personal endeavor, holding ourselves accountable for our individual and collective actions. Viewed in the context of sustainability, this means upholding social, economic and environmental standards not only on behalf of our shareholders, but for the larger community to which we belong and the planet at large.

Mutuality

We seek to achieve a mutual benefit of all parties involved with our business. Sharing success is our goal in all that we do. In sustainability terms, we recognize that the independence we enjoy as a privately held business is based on our interdependence and successful partnerships are the foundation of sustainability. Seeking to act upon this recognition of interdependence, our goal is to consider at every point the social, environmental and economic impact of our business decisions from the local to the global level.

Efficiency

Efficiency is a fundamentally indispensable part of implementing sustainable strategies like Lean manufacturing, but it is insufficient by itself for achieving sustainability. Business consultant Peter Drucker has said that being efficient—doing things right—is the crucial role of the manager. It’s the leader’s job to be effective, to “do the right things.” Mars’ long-term success depends on both. When we leverage highly efficient processes in the service of effective practices, we can create commercially profitable, socially beneficial and ecologically intelligent products and services that form the basis of a robust, sustainable long-term growth.

Freedom

Profitability enables Mars to preserve our freedom to operate. Our company’s unique qualities and ways of doing business afford us the opportunity to approach sustainability as both a significant business opportunity and a common goal. Sustainability can help drive self-sustaining cycles of innovation and profitability. In summary, we believe that The Five Principles and our approach to sustainability in the context of our businesses will drive innovation and enhance our competitive advantage, long-term growth and the value of our brands. By enabling us to embrace both change and prosperity, sustainability at Mars provides a lasting bond with our traditions and a bridge to our future success.