Mars Petcare advances performance towards 100% sustainable fish sourcing goal and supports World Wildlife Fund’s innovation on blue finance 

• 96% of fish used globally in Mars Petcare pet food recipes are from sustainable sources, according to its guidelines. 
• Mars Petcare supports World Wildlife Fund (WWF)’s efforts to build innovative blue financing innovation for fishery recovery. 

Brussels, Belgium (June 8, 2022) – Mars Petcare announced progress towards a longstanding goal to sustainably source 100% of the fish used in pet food recipes. The company now sources 96% of fish used from more sustainable sources aligned to Mars’ guidelines, up from 81% last year.   

Paul Gardner, Chief Procurement Officer, Mars Petcare, said: “We’re proud that our procurement teams are sourcing more sustainably sourced fish – this work delivers on our commitments and benefits the planet and its pets.  We will continue to strengthen our efforts and invest in sustainable fisheries together with our partner WWF in the years to come.” 

Mars Petcare does not source endangered fish species, as defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. All the materials and raw ingredients that we and our suppliers use must meet our own strict global internal quality and safety requirements. The company has also partnered with WWF in shifting towards compliance to the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) as part of increasing seafood transparency and harmonization of different traceability standards. 

Michael Griff, Director for Ocean Markets at World Wildlife Fund, said: “Mars has been instrumental in the seafood sustainability movement as one of the first WWF partners to commit to more sustainable pet food supply chain. We are thrilled to see the progress Mars Petcare has achieved in its journey to ensure better sourcing practices across its global operations. We will continue to work together to reduce pressure on our oceans and preserve its resources for resilient ecosystems and prosperous coastal communities” 

Mars Petcare, with technical support from WWF and fisheries experts, continually revises its fish sourcing guidelines aligned to international standards and consistently drives for positive environmental and human rights practices in its fish supply chains. 

Beyond improving its own supply chain, Mars Petcare has been working closely with WWF to fund the financing of fisheries improvement globally. Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) bring together multiple stakeholders in the supply chain to address environmental challenges. FIPs work to make fisheries more sustainable by implementing action plans to improve fishing practices and management.  

In 2022, Mars partnered with WWF to address the overexploitation of the world’s fisheries and work to tackle the challenges associated with traditional funding for fisheries improvement. Through this innovative blue finance initiative, Mars is supporting WWF in ideating new models to provide a consistent source of funds for large-scale, long-term financing for global fisheries reform. 

Caroline Tippett, Vice President for Ocean Markets and Finance at World Wildlife Fund, said: “Mars is showcasing further industry-wide leadership in the seafood sustainability realm by supporting the ideation of innovative blue economy financial models that are needed to scale fisheries improvement worldwide. Through this partnership we are working to develop innovative financing mechanisms that will attract investors from the public and private sectors to scale global fisheries improvement. This shows a genuine commitment from Mars to reach its global commitment to more sustainable seafood sourcing and healthier oceans for generations to come.” 

Paul Gardner, Chief Procurement Officer, Mars Petcare, said: "As a purpose driven business, we chose to be a part of the solution, and that's why we are proud to partner with WWF to help ensure the world's fisheries are protected and fish are sustainably sourced." 

About Mars Petcare   
Mars Petcare is part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. Our almost 100,000 Associates across 130 countries are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets – including brands PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, ROYAL CANIN®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, GREENIES™,  IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™ as well as the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of more than 2,500 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including AniCura, AntechAsia Veterinary Diagnostics, BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, Linnaeus, Mount Pleasant, VCA, VES, and VSH. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL™ genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE™ GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND™ programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are building a thriving and inclusive workforce reflective of the many pets and communities we serve, privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in. And we choose to fight for our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.