Mars UK to measure and report its social value contribution

Mars UK has become the first major consumer-company in the UK to measure and report on its social value contribution across its consumer packaged goods businesses – arming the business with a holistic and externally validated understanding of its social, environmental and economic impact.

This includes quantifying the contribution the company is making to the UK economy, beyond GDP, through value-adding initiatives in UK communities such as local upskilling, employment opportunities for underrepresented groups, responsible business practises, decarbonisation and efforts to reduce its environmental footprint.

Over the past 12 months, the privately-owned business has been collaborating with Social Value Portal, a leading organisation that helps measure and report Social Value, to independently benchmark its Social Value in the UK, through the TOM System. This provides the business with a baseline, enabling it to further enhance the value being created within the company and for the communities it serves.

Above the estimated $7.7 billion (£5.9bn) in GVA that Mars operations contribute to the UK economy each year, in 2023, Mars UK delivered over £88 million in Social Value across three of its UK CPG businesses - Snacking, Food & Nutrition, and Pet Nutrition. This is equivalent to £23,000 of social value created by every Mars UK employee. The current figure does not include contributions made by Mars wider services businesses and its specialised brands.

As the first major consumer company in the UK to adopt the Social Value TOM System, Mars UK has joined the National Social Value Taskforce which comprises of members from national and local government, public and private sectors. Together, the group are collaborating to maximise Social Value contributions across the UK.

“Our longstanding heritage and presence in the UK is something we’re very proud of and, as we approach almost a century of operating in the UK, we recognise the vital importance of better understanding the value we are creating beyond our direct operations,” Adam Grant, general manager, Mars Wrigley UK, said.

“The work we are doing with the Social Value Portal is giving us a baseline, allowing us to track our activity with a more holistic view of our social, environmental and economic activity. The more we collaborate, support and drive innovation in Social Value projects and partnerships, the greater the opportunity to enrich and empower our shared communities, local economies and planet for the long term.”

Guy Battle, chief executive of Social Value Portal, commented: “Given the sheer size of economic activity, geographical spread, and wealth of jobs created by the consumer-packaged goods sector, the industry is uniquely positioned to creating lasting and positive change on a massive scale. For example, if all employees in the Food and Drink sector volunteered for one day a year, it would generate over £50 million in Social Value. This kind of radical collective action could significantly boost local economies, reduce inequalities, and accelerate climate action.”

Lorraine Cox, chair National Social Value Taskforce, added: “We need more private sector organisations to integrate Social Value into their core business strategies and through radical collaboration to support the delivery of the Social Value Economy.”

Alongside capturing more qualitive data and conducting local needs assessments, the 2023 Mars UK Social Value Report identifies a key opportunity for future growth through partnerships.

Harriet Lamb, chief executive of WRAP, who Mars UK works with to enhance and advise on the business’ sustainable packaging efforts, commented on the announcement: " With the FMCG sector contributing £134 billion to the UK economy annually and employing over 456,000 people, collaboration within the industry cannot be overstated. One example measured in the Social Value report is the contribution Mars is making to eliminate problematic and unnecessary packaging as a member of the UK Plastic Pact. Working together in this way, the industry can deliver greater social, economic, and environmental value, and help build the more circular, zero waste economy of the future.”