Mars introduces animal-free, planet-friendly ‘CO2COA’ in partnership with Perfect Day in the US

Mars Incorporated, a world leader in confectionery, announced a new sustainability inspired chocolate experience, CO2COA, is joining the family of snacks and treats that includes M&M'S, SNICKERS, SKITTLES, and EXTRA Gum.

Mars has partnered with Perfect Day, to launch the company's first ever earth-friendly and animal-free chocolate innovation in the US. The name CO2COA is a thoughtful and playful way to pay homage to its Rainforest Alliance-Certified cocoa and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in product sourcing. This innovation provides consumers with a delicious earth-friendly, animal-free, and lactose-free chocolate experience and is the latest sustainability-inspired innovation from Mars.

Mars believes the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today, and the company's snacks and treats inspire moments of happiness every day around the world. CO2COA maintains the silky-smooth taste consumers expect while leaning into the flexitarian dietary trends today's conscious consumers are embracing. Mars CO2COA sources Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa and uses Perfect Day animal-free dairy protein, making it entirely free from lactose and cholesterol while wrapped in paper-based packaging.

"At Mars, we bring our consumer-passion to innovation, developing on-trend innovations that support a world where both people and the planet thrive," said Chris Rowe, Global vice president of Research & Development, Mars Wrigley. "The creation of CO2COA is an inventive example of how we partner with technology innovators, like Perfect Day, to bring great new offerings to our consumers. We're excited to collaborate with Perfect Day and continuing to explore the potential of alternative proteins to help create a more delicious and sustainable future."

Perfect Day has created the world's first nature-identical dairy protein, without any animal inputs. A recent lifecycle assessment found that their precision fermentation process uses up to 99% less water and produces up to 97% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, compared to traditional production methods. By partnering with leaders in the food system, like Mars, who are innovating to use less of earth's resources, Perfect Day is broadening that impact for a kinder, greener tomorrow.

"Partnering with a forward-looking leader like Mars to accelerate their innovation and sustainability initiatives is a hallmark example of how we're extending our impact," said Ryan Pandya, Perfect Day cofounder and chief executive officer. "Today, companies big and small need to deliver on the needs of their consumers, who won't compromise on taste or the future of our planet. We're thrilled to help a world-class company like Mars do just that as we champion a path towards a more resilient food system for all."

Guided by the Mars Sustainable in a Generation Plan, CO2COA is one of many examples of the work being done in service of the business' sustainability goals, which focus on three key areas – Healthy Planet, Thriving People, and Nourishing Wellbeing. Through its partnership with Perfect Day, Mars combines the company's 100+ year leadership in chocolate with the commitment to a healthy planet to create a silkysmooth chocolate innovation that's made with both consumer preference and the planet in mind.

"CO2COA is another example of how Mars continues to think and act differently to help create the world we want tomorrow," said Alastair Child, chief sustainability officer, Mars Wrigley. "From certified cocoa and a reduction in CO2 emissions to animal-free dairy, CO2COA was thoughtfully designed as we work to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Mars' full value chain by 2050."

CO2COA is one of many latest innovations from snacks and treats maker Mars, including M&M'S Munchums, SNICKERS Hi Protein Bar, and STARBURST Airs. CO2COA also follows Mars recent global packaging innovations including BALISTO paper-based packaging in Germany, ORBIT Gum Megapacks adding on-pack recycling guides from How2Recycle in the US, and the announcement that all Mars bars sold in the UK, Ireland and Canada will be certified as carbon neutral by 2023.

The Mars CO2COA innovation will be available for purchase online at www.co2coa.com, beginning 16 June, 2022, while supplies last. For more information on CO2COA and Mars sustainability efforts please visit www.co2coa.com or join in on the social media conversation using #CO2COA.