Two years ago this week, Mars’ facilities in the United Kingdom began using wind turbines to produce the energy needed to make pet foods, such as Wiskas cat food, along with human foods. More recently, pet food trends at Interzoo 2018 focused on sustainability.
Mars' UK pet food factories powered by wind
Twenty wind turbines in the Scottish Highlands now provide more than enough electricity to power all 12 Mars, Inc. offices and pet food factories in the United Kingdom. Mars formed a partnership with Eneco UK to build the 60 megawatt (MW) wind farm using 70-meter-tall turbines near the villages of Moy and Tomatin, Scotland.
The Moy wind farm joined a 118-turbine, 200 MW wind farm in the US to provide energy for Mars’ operations. The Mesquite Creek wind farm in Lamesa, Texas, USA produces enough renewable energy to power all 70 Mars facilities in the US. Both wind power initiatives are part of Mars’ Sustainable in a Generation program, which aims to eliminate Mars’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.
Pet food trends at Interzoo 2018 center on sustainability
From comparisons of the carbon footprint of pet food protein sources to compostable bags, packaging label claims, alternative processing methods and research and fundraising efforts, pet food sustainability was a hot topic at Interzoo 2018, held May 8-11 in Nuremberg, Germany, wrote Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry, in her blog.
As one example of sustainability related claims, a new “gentle baked” line from Sunday Pets of New Zealand touted these terms on its bags: “Minimally processed. Pristine waters. Sustainable fishing. Farm to bag: ethical & sustainable, fully traceable.” In other words, hitting on all the pet food trends most often in the news these days, including sustainability.
