Mars invests US$70M to enhance supply chain at Hackettstown manufacturing site

USA – Mars, a leading food and pet care products company, has announced a substantial investment of over US$70 million into its Hackettstown location in New Jersey, USA.

This economic development initiative will see the establishment of a state-of-the-art Research and Development (R&D) Innovation Studio, comprising a cutting-edge packaging lab, a modern test kitchen, and a collaborative workspace.

The primary objective behind these facilities is to drive manufacturing efficiencies and elevate food safety standards at the Hackettstown manufacturing factory.

Notably, the updated packaging lab within the R&D Innovation Studio will focus on the creation and testing of sustainable packaging solutions, aligning with Mars’ commitment to fostering a circular economy where packaging materials are consistently recycled, reused, or composted, thereby minimizing waste.

Anton Vincent, President of Mars Wrigley North America and Global Ice Cream, emphasized the company’s longstanding commitment to quality and innovation, stating, “At Mars, our commitment to quality and innovation has been at the center of our business for more than a century.

“The continued investment in our Hackettstown site reaffirms our commitment to innovation in New Jersey and upskilling our associates with best-in-class facilities to create more moments of everyday happiness for our consumers.”

The Innovation Studio is poised to support the production of iconic Mars Wrigley products in the US, such as M&M’S, SNICKERS, and TWIX, while also facilitating the development of new products.

This multiyear investment, which commenced in 2023, also includes the construction of a new chocolate production facility, further bolstering Mars’ manufacturing capabilities.

This latest investment announcement follows Mars’ recent partnership with Ansys, focusing on utilizing a new simulation approach for its packaging development process.

Moreover, Mars China’s introduction of the new Snickers low-glycemic index (GI) dark chocolate cereal bar in mono-material flexible packaging underscores the company’s dedication to sustainable packaging solutions.

The Snickers low GI chocolate bar packaging, made from easily recyclable polypropylene (PP) material, adheres to Mars’ principle of “Designed For Recycling,” meeting relevant Chinese standards and promoting a more sustainable planet.

The outer packaging box, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), underscores Mars China’s commitment to minimizing plastic dependence and supporting sustainable forest management.

Furthermore, Mars China is actively engaged in promoting a circular economy closed-loop system in collaboration with various organizations, including the Green Recycled Plastic Supply Chain Joint Working Group, China Plastic Recycling Association, PepsiCo, Dow, and P&G.

This initiative aims to establish a sustainable flexible plastic packaging collection and recycling closed-loop system in China, addressing design, collection, and recycling challenges.

Consumers’ support for collecting and dropping used mono-flexible packages at designated collection points covered under the Flexible Plastics Reborn project is crucial for the success of such sustainability initiatives.

Through these efforts, Mars remains steadfast in its commitment to driving sustainable packaging iteration and fostering a more environmentally conscious future.

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