Mars is making a strong commitment to NatRefs

In the updated Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) booklet global food manufacturer Mars states it has converted one-third of its total factory refrigeration gas inventory to natural refrigerants.

A Mars chocolate bar.

The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) updated ‘Refrigeration Booklet’, published last week, cites the example of the global food manufacturer Mars’ commitment to phasing-out its use of HFCs.

CGF groups CEOs and senior management of some 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and other stakeholders across 70 countries, which includes Mars. 

Since the end of 2016, Mars has “converted more than one-third of its total factory refrigeration gas inventory to natural refrigerants”, the booklet notes.

One way we’re making meaningful progress is by transitioning to natural refrigerants."
– Grant F. Reid, CEO, Mars 

“It’s time for transformational change to tackle the threat of global warming”, Grant F. Reid, CEO of Mars advocates. “At Mars, we’ve set a science-based target to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 67 percent by 2050. One way we’re making meaningful progress is by transitioning to natural refrigerants.” 

100% of Mars’ ice cream factories use natural refrigerants like ammonia and CO2. A French plant that converted to natural refrigerants in 2010 reduced its electricity consumption by 26%. The factory “also delivered a 'sweet result' for consumers in the form of creamier ice cream benefitting from smaller ice crystals”, according to Mars.

As well as the committment from Mars' ice cream factories, 15 of the company’s Wrigley Confectionery Segment factories have also started using natural refrigerants.

The CGF booklet also contains updated case studies from the retail group Ahold Delhaize, Japanese retailer Lawsons and U.K. retailer Tesco. “The addition of these new case studies to our Refrigeration booklet demonstrate that our members remain committed to this important CGF initiative,” Ignacio Gavilan, sustainability director for CGF, said. 

Tesco states, in the booklet, that its “strategy for the last 10 years has been to reduce leakage and move to natural refrigeration systems where possible and we have over 250 stores installed to date across our group”.

The retailer is planning to move 31% of the equipment that is at its end of life from HFCs to CO2 over the next five to ten years.

By Charlotte McLaughlin

May 04, 2018, 12:20




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