Mars Petcare using solar to manufacture dog food - Smart Energy Decisions

Commercial, Industrial, Solar  -  December 13, 2017

Mars using solar to manufacture Pedigree dog food

Mars Petcare has started using electricity generated from its newest solar garden, linked to its San Bernardino, Calif., manufacturing facility, to produce Pedigree brand dry dog food. 

The solar garden features 3,420 individual solar panels that will annually deliver 1.9 million kilowatt hours, which can power more than 50% of the 78,000 square foot site's daily energy needs, the Mars Inc. unit said in a Dec. 12 news release. The four-acre solar garden is expected to yield a 549-tonne reduction of greenhouse gases. 

This is the third solar garden constructed by Mars in the U.S., joining Mars Wrigley Confectionery solar gardens in Hackettstown, N.J., and Henderson, Nev. Mars also co-owns a 25,000-acre wind farm near Lamesa, Texas, featuring 118 turbines, that annually generates nearly 800,000 MWh of power. Each of the projects contribute to the company's "Sustainable in a Generation Plan" that calls for a 27% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across Mars' entire value chain by 2025 and 67% by 2050. 

"At Mars Petcare we're working towards our mission: A Better World for Pets, because we wholeheartedly believe they improve our lives," Mars Global VP of Sustainability Kevin Rabinovitch said in a statement. "This new solar garden is a great example of the steps we need to take in order to achieve the ambitious goals set out in our new Sustainable in a Generation Plan to reduce the total environmental impact of Mars to ensure we foster a healthy planet for future generations – of people and pets."

The company has been creative in communicating its environmental efforts: In September, its M&M's brand launched a new marketing campaign advocating the use of wind energy.

Tags: Mars

« Back to Renewable Energy

  • LinkedIn
  • Subscribe

Smart Energy Decisions Content Partners