close up of mars chocolate bar. (Photo by: Newscast/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Mars and Unreasonable Group have announced the first cohort of entrepreneurs and ventures to benefit from a program to support sustainability and the transition to Net Zero.
The 15 cohorts have been selected as the first wave of the Unreasonable Food program and are headquartered across five continents, operating in nearly 40 countries around the globe.
They were chosen through a rigorous selection process based on factors such as, technology readiness, potential impact, and scalability.
The cohorts are involved in a number of different fields, including reducing greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions, and developing more circular packaging.
As part of the program, the ventures will have access to resources and networks, and opportunities for collaboration with Mars and other industry leaders.
Amanda Davies, chief research and development, procurement and sustainability officer at Mars Snacking said in an interview the new partnership will help “shape the future of food” with sustainability across the supply chain.
“Unreasonable Food is not just a name, but also a mindset,” said Davies. “To see the change we want we must think in an unreasonable way”
Davies said the 15 entrepreneurs chosen in the first wave have been chosen because they align with the key areas Mars wants to concentrate on, namely the future of food, improving farmer livelihood, transforming the food supply chain and reimagining sustainable packaging.
These entrepreneurs include the seaweed resin company, Loliware, which creates biodegradable and home compostable packaging materials.
“We are the first generation of leaders that cannot look anybody in the eye and saying we did not know about climate change, and I take that incredibly seriously,” Davies told me.
“We've looked at many ventures for this partnership around the world,” she added. “And these entrepreneurs are connecting the dots in a way that we would not necessarily do from our vantage point.
Davies said Mars has set itself the goal of reaching net zero by 2050, which she added will require the company to “redfine and rethink” many issues and supply chains.
“We are also going to have to think about some of the big challenges that we have, like for example diary and what we need to do in terms of the dairy supply chain to make sure that we reduce emissions there.
“Another one of the entrepreneurs selected is Sea Forest, which produces red seaweed-based feed additives that you can feed to cattle, helping to reduce the emissions.
“These partnerships, are not just about the faraway things that need to happen in 2040 or 2050, they are making sure we can accelerate and land some changes quickly, as well.”
Unreasonable is a Colorado-based, international company that supports growth-stage entrepreneurs, and partners with some of the world’s leading brands to ensure a more just future
In a statement, the chief executive of Unreasonable Group, Daniel Epstein said: “Their innovative solutions and commitment to creating a more regenerative, inclusive, and equitable future of food align perfectly with our mission.
“We look forward to supporting their growth and connecting them with Mars to drive lasting mutual impact and value."
