Mars sustainability score: 36/100
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Mars is a privately held global food manufacturer headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with ~80,000 employees and $35B annual revenue (FY2017). Known for confectionery (Mars, Snickers, M&Ms), petcare (Pedigree, Whiskas), and rice (Ben's Original).
More about Mars
A major player in FMCG with significant agricultural supply chain exposure.
Founded 1911Head office McLean, Virginia, USStaff ~150,000Revenue ~$55BWebsite ↗
Mars has cut absolute emissions 16% since 2015 while growing revenue 69%, with SBTi-validated targets and strong supply chain mapping. But greenwashing allegations persist: RAN disputes deforestation claims, ad agencies face whistleblower suits, and packaging recycling rates lag designed targets. The company needs to triple its decarbonisation pace to hit 2030 goals.
Mars scores 36/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified May 2026.
That places Mars joint 542nd of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 32nd of 57 in FMCG / Consumer Goods.
What is Mars doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Targets & Commitments and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Resource Use & Waste and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 5/10).
Where Mars lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- How it uses materials and handles wasteReport measurable waste or recycling targets publicly.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- Its effect on waterMeasure its water footprint and set reduction targets.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain7/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling6/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature5/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water5/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets8/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports7/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies5/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Mars's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Mars's score based on?
17 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
29% of them were published by Mars itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 4 April 2026 under an earlier version of our method. We're re-checking it under the current method.
12 of 17 sources are independent of the company.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Is this your company? Claim this profile (free)
Use this score in tenders
Send the link, or the one-page score sheet. It links back to this page and every source. Free.
Open the score sheet →Send new evidence, free
Scored low because little is published? Publish what you do and send us the link, free. If it holds up, your score changes, and the change is logged on your page.
How to send evidence →Put your score on your website, free
It shows the current band, sector rank and score, and links to this page, so it changes when the score does.
Track this score
Bidding for a public contract? Check if you need a Carbon Reduction Plan, free →
Want your own page like this?
Free, independent, every source shown. Send it to any buyer who asks about your sustainability.
How does Mars compare with other fmcg / consumer goods companies?
Where Mars sits among fmcg / consumer goods peers.
Among the 57 major fmcg / consumer goods brands we've scored, Mars is tied =32nd of 57, with 2 others.
Who scores higher in FMCG / Consumer Goods?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Mars.
Kimberly-Clark has assured emissions data and SBTi-approved absolute targets, but its Scope 3 target covers only purchased goods and end of life, and its core products are single-use.
See the breakdown →Bandai Namco reports Scope 1 and 2 emissions with third-party assurance, but Scope 3, which dominates its footprint at 1.9M tonnes, has none and the company says its calculation is not yet precise.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.
We'll send one email to confirm. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Checking a company?
Search free →Asked to prove you're sustainable?
Get your business scored, free →Been scored?
Find your page and claim it, free →Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it.