Mars Chocolate on track to purchase nearly 90,000 metric tons of certified cocoa

MOUNT OLIVE, N.J. — Mars Chocolate said it has made "significant progress" towards fulfilling its pledge to purchase its entire cocoa supply from certified sustainable sources by 2020.

Mars' Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, which was established in 2009, since has met its 2011 goal of purchasing 10% of its total cocoa supply as certified sustainable. In 2012, Mars Chocolate said it will exceed its original target of 20%, making it the largest user of certified cocoa in the world. Based on current buying arrangements, the company projects that they will purchase nearly 90,000 tons of certified cocoa.

"We are pleased to have reached another critical milestone in our Sustainable Cocoa Initiative," said Barry Parkin, global procurement and sustainability head for Mars Chocolate. "A successful certification program is so important to our effort because it is the most effective tool we currently have to reach millions of cocoa farmers at scale. It took a lot of hard work from farmers, certifiers, and others along the supply chain to meet this milestone, and we are pleased to see their energy paying off."

For more information on the company's effort supporting cocoa sustainability, click here.