Packaging innovation sits at the heart of Mars' sustainability agenda. The company's packaging experts leverage Ansys' advanced simulation technology to design solutions that are recyclable, compostable or reusable — reducing packaging development time by 40% and eliminating more than 350 tonnes of plastic.

Significant milestones include Snickers, Milky Way and Mars bars in Australia now featuring recyclable paper flow wrap. In Europe, redesigned packaging for Mars' pet nutrition brands has saved more than 480 tonnes of plastic annually. From Skittles compostable packaging to pet food pouches, the company is systematically replacing traditional plastic across its portfolio.

Mars has partnered with PIPA to build an AI-powered research assistant that harnesses both generative and agentic AI. PIPA's platform, LEAP, analyses more than 22 million scientific publications and 60 knowledge bases to identify novel bioactive plant compounds that can enhance nutrition in food and petcare products.

The multi-year partnership, which began in 2022, also extends to food safety, pet health and diagnostics — enabling Mars scientists to make faster, more evidence-based decisions across a vast research landscape.

Consumer insight is embedded throughout Mars' R&D processes. A standout example is Respawn by Razer — a new snacking brand co-created with gaming hardware firm Razer specifically for gamers. The range includes mints and chewing gum engineered with packaging designed to keep players focused and in the game.

To develop the brand, Mars built Gamer Labs — dedicated spaces to test prototypes, campaigns and claims in real-life settings. Razer's deep access to esport teams and millions of digital platform interactions provided the behavioural data needed to translate genuine consumer pain points into product innovation.

Nutritional science underpins Mars' entire product development strategy. Breakthroughs in biology, computing power and genomics are opening new opportunities to identify novel ingredients, optimise formulations and meet evolving health needs — for both people and pets. Bush describes the challenge as "always balancing the triangle of nutrition, taste and accessibility."

In the past year alone, Mars' Food & Nutrition segment delivered 3.5 billion healthy meals, including 309 million servings of fibre and 372 million servings of vegetables, while reducing sodium by 5% versus a 2019 baseline. New product launches like Ben's Original Street Food — high in fibre and protein — are expanding the brand's ready meals portfolio across the US, Canada and UK.

In petcare, the Waltham Petcare Science Institute has spent more than 60 years advancing understanding of feline and canine nutrition. This science directly informs Mars Petcare's full product portfolio, including its Kind snacking range which is built around nutrient-dense nuts and whole grains as primary ingredients.

Experimentation has been core to Mars' identity since its founding more than 110 years ago. Today that spirit is formalised through the Mars Make The Difference global recognition and innovation programme, which celebrates pioneers and trailblazers with the goal of scaling extraordinary innovations across the business.

The 2025 cycle saw 14,000 nominations, progressing to local and regional semi-finals before a Global Final in Washington D.C. brought together 150 associates representing 80 projects. The top 10 global winners were celebrated by members of the Mars family and senior leaders — a powerful signal that innovation at every level is valued and rewarded.

Recent breakthroughs enabled by this culture include the Greenies Canine Dental Check — the first AI-powered tool that allows pet parents to assess their dog's dental health using just a smartphone photo — and the development of compostable Skittles packaging.

Key Takeaways

• →Mars has committed US$7.8bn in manufacturing investment since 2021, spanning US$6bn in American operations and €1.5bn in EU facilities to drive decarbonisation and product innovation.
• →Ansys simulation technology has reduced Mars' packaging development time by 40% and eliminated over 350 tonnes of plastic, with recyclable paper flow wrap now in use for key chocolate brands in Australia.
• →The PIPA LEAP AI platform analyses 22 million+ scientific publications to identify novel bioactive compounds, accelerating ingredient discovery for food and petcare products.
• →Mars' Food & Nutrition segment delivered 3.5 billion healthy meals in a single year, reducing sodium 5% from a 2019 baseline while expanding its ready meals and snacking portfolios.
• →Over 60 climate-smart agriculture projects across 29 countries removed 41,000+ tonnes of CO₂, with regenerative farming partnerships spanning ADM, Cargill, PepsiCo and Riceland Foods.
• →A culture rooted in psychological safety and curiosity — embodied through the Make The Difference programme with 14,000 nominations in 2025 — is enabling Mars to continuously scale innovation from the ground up.