Mars Inc. Wins USGBC Leadership Award
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded Mars Inc. the Ray Anderson Radical Industrialism Award. The USGBC presented the award at its 2014 Leadership Awards Luncheon on Nov. 6.
The leadership awards celebrate individuals and groups that the USGBC considers to be on the forefront sustainability in the built environment who are committed to advancing the industry.
For the past three years, Mars, the manufacturer behind brands such as M&M’s and Whiskas, has aimed to achieve LEED Gold certification for all new major buildings globally with nearly 10 sites or factories. The latest Mars manufacturing facility to earn LEED Gold was at its Topeka, Kan., location. The 500,000-square-foot facility, which opened in March, earned the certification in September. The facility produces M&M’s and Snickers candy.
To meet the requirements to become LEED Gold certified, the Topeka site included several sustainable systems and features, such as 100 percent renewable electricity, heat recovery systems, and rain water harvesting for sewage transfer in both the office area and for landscape irrigation. It also includes low-flow water fixtures, energy-efficient lighting, recycled building materials and low-emitting local and regional materials, as well as native grasses that do not require irrigation.
Including the Topeka site, nine of the 10 Mars Chocolate North America factories have achieved “zero waste to landfill,” one of several 2015 global goals outlined in the company’s “Principles in Action Summary,” published in July. The report details how the company is progressing toward eliminated all fossil fuel energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from direct operations by 2040.
“As the green building movement continues to grow throughout the world, it is even more important to recognize the leaders who set the bar for others and who are always pushing the envelope toward a sustainable future,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC, in a statement. “We are proud to recognize our Leadership Award recipients for their commitment to our mission and to their contributions to advancing our industry.”
The Ray C. Anderson Foundation sponsors the Ray Anderson Radical Industrialism Award, which is named for the leader of Interface Inc. Anderson is considered to be a pioneer of corporate sustainability and influential regarding LEED building certification. Anderson visited the Mars McLean global office in the early days of its sustainability program, and working with Interface helped shape Mars’ approach to sustainability.