Tell Mars, Inc. To Set an Example for the Snack Food 20

By Rainforest Action Network

Today I visited the corporate headquarters of Mars, Inc. with Strawberry, an orphaned orangutan from Indonesia, to let the company know that consumers all across the world want Mars to stop using Conflict Palm Oil in its products.

Unlike some of its fellow Snack Food 20 companies, like Kraft and Smucker’s, Mars is on the move. We have a chance to push Mars, the maker of wildly popular brands like M&Ms, Snickers, and Combos, to become an industry leader in sourcing responsible palm oil.

After RAN put the snack food sector on notice last April, Mars, Inc. responded by strengthening its palm oil commitment. The company has committed to working towards sourcing 100% of its palm oil from traceable sources that are not associated with deforestation, expansion on carbon-rich peatlands and the violation of human and labor rights.

Mars needs to hear from you right now! Tell the company to turn its new commitments into a global palm oil policy and take action to cut Conflict Palm Oil from its products immediately.

1. Call Mars at 1-800-627-7852. Here’s a call script you can use:

“Hi, my name is [your name] from [your city]. I’m a [student, mom..] and one of your valued customers! It concerns me that your company cannot guarantee that it is not using Conflict Palm Oil in its products. Mars, Inc. must demand responsible palm oil from its suppliers and eliminate conflict palm oil from its products. I encourage you to build on Mars, Inc.’s existing palm oil procurement commitments by adopting a new global responsible palm oil procurement policy and implementation plan that ensures that the palm oil in your company’s supply chain is fully traceable, legally grown, and sourced from verified responsible palm oil producers not associated with deforestation, expansion onto carbon-rich peatlands or human and labor rights violations. Thank You!”

2. Post this message on Mars’ Facebook wall:

Hey Mars, Inc., I’m standing with orangutans, and I can’t stand by brands that use Conflict Palm Oil. Demand responsible palm oil from your suppliers and eliminate Conflict Palm Oil from your products. The power is #InYourPalm.

3. Tweet at Mars:

@MarsGlobal I can’t stand by brands that use Conflict #PalmOil. The power is #InYourPalm.

At the Mars HQ, Strawberry and I gave representatives of the company a copy of the RAN report Conflict Palm Oil: How US Snack Food Brands are Contributing to Orangutan Extinction, Climate Change and Human Rights Violations and outlined RAN’s demand to cut Conflict Palm Oil.

Can you call Mars and encourage the company to cut Conflict Palm Oil from its products and set an example for the rest of the Snack Food 20?

And if you haven’t yet, sign our petition to all of the Snack Food 20 companies, including companies like Kraft, Smucker’s, and Kellogg’s, in addition to Mars, to cut Conflict Palm Oil from their products.