• Mars Petcare and World Wildlife Fund renew global partnership on fish sustainability until 2025.
• Announcement marks progress on commitment to procure 100% of fish from more sustainable sources

Brussels, Belgium (April 30, 2021) — Mars Petcare announced progress towards a longstanding goal to sustainably source 100% of the fish used in some pet food recipes. The company now sources 81% of fish used from more sustainable sources aligned to Mars’ guidelines. The company also confirmed it sources no endangered fish species.

The goal is part of Mars, Incorporated’s Sustainable in a Generation plan and demonstrates the company’s commitment to integrating sustainability into the heart of its business and bringing more innovative, sustainable choices to pet owners around the world.   

In partnership with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Mars Petcare set an ambitious target in 2010 to seek 100% sustainable sources of fish. Progress toward the goal is highlighted in a new joint report from WWF and Mars Petcare detailing work over the past decade to innovate and scale approaches to more sustainable fish sourcing. WWF and Mars Petcare have renewed their global partnership until 2025 to advance Mars sourcing goals and to positively influence progress toward sustainability in the fishing sector more broadly.

As Mars Petcare continues to work towards a fully sustainable fish supply, the business will regularly evaluate where it sources its fish, the types of fish used, and practices across its supply chain, aiming to minimize competition with the human food supply chain while helping to ensure that products can be both nutritious for pets and better for the world’s oceans.

The company is also working with certifying organizations, standard setters and fish experts at the Marine Stewardship Council, Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch and Aquaculture Stewardship Council on sustainable fish buying practices and collaborating with businesses and governments to drive change across the industry to help protect vulnerable ecosystems and drive responsible practices.

Caroline Tippett, Senior Director of Seafood Markets at World Wildlife Fund said: “We are delighted to continue our decade-long partnership with Mars Petcare, as they continue to be an industry leader working to ensure more sustainable seafood sourcing across their global operations.”

“The impact of overfishing is stark, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come. In order for the seafood sector to grow and thrive in the years ahead, it needs to be even more responsible and sustainable, and requires more collaboration throughout the seafood sector.”

Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist at Mars, Incorporated adds: “As we prepare for a future of more than 10 billion people and more pets, sustainable business practice which is led by science and cares about the planet and our oceans is essential."

“When we cemented the partnership with WWF over a decade ago, we were deeply aware that many fisheries around the world were on the verge of collapse and that several fish species were critically endangered and threatened by extinction."

“As we continue to play our part in supporting a future for ocean ecosystems, we are focused on sourcing from sustainably managed fisheries using no endangered species according to the IUCN Red List.”

Andy Parton, Global Vice President of Procurement at Mars Petcare comments:  “Mars Petcare sources fish because we make healthy, nutritious and high-quality pet food, and seafood ingredients play a small but important role in our products. This effort is a key part of our broader engagement with our strategic pet food ingredient suppliers around the world as they boost their sustainability performance and as we take action together to improve environmental and social impacts in supply chains.  

“As a family-owned, purpose-driven company we’re focused on doing business in ways that not only meet the nutritional needs of pets, but that also build a better, more sustainable world.”  

Mars Petcare will continue to work toward its commitment to source 100% of fish from sustainable sources, continue to ensure that it does not source endangered fish species according to the IUCN Red List, and take action to help strengthen protections for people in its fish value chain.

About Mars Petcare

Mars Petcare is part of Mars, Incorporated, a global, family-owned business. At Mars Petcare, our 85,000 Associates are dedicated to creating A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™, where all pets are healthy, happy and welcome. Today, our diverse portfolio of almost 50 products and services serves the needs of pets in around 130 countries. Our science-backed pet food, care and treats are designed to meet the individual needs of pets through brands like  PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, ROYAL CANIN^®, NUTRO™, GREENIES™, SHEBA^®, CESAR^®, IAMS™ and EUKANUBA™. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider with an international network of over 2,500 pet hospitals including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™, Linnaeus, VSH and  AniCura, and diagnostic services via Antech. And at Kinship, we are helping everyone pet parent like a pro with pioneering brands like WISDOM PANEL™,  WHISTLE™, and the LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND™ programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. At WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, we are advancing research that improves the lives of pets and deepens our understanding of the human animal bond. To learn more, visit our website or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.