woman picking cocoa pods
Sustainability

OUR PURPOSE

OUR MISSION

Making chocolate better, one piece at a time.

This is about a lot more than creating delicious Galaxy chocolate. It’s about our commitment to help create opportunities for positive change for cocoa-growing communities.

These are the communities we depend on to make our irresistible Galaxy chocolate.

Working on the ground with like-minded partners, through our Cocoa for Generations(open in new tab) strategy, we have committed $1 billion USD over a period of 10 years (2018-2028) to help support programs that make a difference for cocoa-growing communities and the environment.

We understand the challenges the cocoa industry faces are complex.  We want to be a positive force in the cocoa ecosystem, but we can't make progress alone. We’ve worked with others in cocoa for decades and believe continued collaboration is key to supporting the global cocoa ecosystem.  

Learn more about Mars vision and efforts toward a more modern, inclusive, and sustainable cocoa ecosystem where everyone is empowered to thrive on Mars.com(open in new tab).

Starting in 2016, Mars and CARE(open in new tab) have been working together in rolling out the Village Savings and Loans model through the Women for Change program to help support women’s empowerment in our cocoa supply chain. Through the end of 2024, we’ve supported at least 100,000 Women for Change Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) members to help break down financial barriers. Learn more about our latest progress on Mars.com(open in new tab).

On International Women’s Day in 2019, the first stone was laid on a new marketplace for women-led businesses in the village of Gueyo, a centrally located commerce area nestled among the cocoa fields of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa.

Gueyo market
Ehouman Yvette
Djaka Djane

GUEYO MARKET We partnered with CARE to help the village of Gueyo build a much-needed new marketplace. This houses 150 businesses primarily run by women.

EHOUMAN “I have been a food crops trader since 1984. When the market was not built, I had a simple shed and the sun accelerated the deterioration of my food. Mars and CARE have allowed us to have a modern market that makes my heart happy.”

DJANE “I am a clothes vendor. I started this business in the old market. The conditions were difficult. When it was raining, I had to put away my items. This new market, with its modern conveniences, allows me to have peace of mind.”

At Mars, we recognize that the global cocoa supply chain faces many complex and interconnected risks and challenges, especially in regions of West Africa. Although Mars does not own or operate any cocoa farms in West Africa, it does purchase cocoa sourced from all over the world, including West Africa. Mars is making investments in various programs with the goal of helping to combat the risks of human rights abuses, climate change and threats to forests, among other things. Ultimately, no one actor can combat these risks alone—lasting progress will depend on collective action from governments, corporations, NGOs, and all stakeholders in the cocoa industry.