Mars has signed a cooperation agreement with the Ministry of Investment and Innovation in Moscow region aimed at implementation of new ecological and environmental protection technologies within the region.

Valery Schapov, President of Mars Russia, and Denis Butsayev, Deputy Prime-Minister of Moscow Region, signed the tree-year agreement at their meeting during the Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum 2018.

“Indeed, this is a significant agreement for us. Ecological and environmental safety and protection are among priorities of the region development programs. This support from investors operating within the Moscow Region is very important for us. We have a long history of cooperation with Mars. While operating in Moscow Region for over 25 years, their factories have implemented several modernisation programs. Mars production grows and develops consistently. Their new, up-to-date, and relevant project is to be implemented within 3 years,” as advised by Denis Butsayev, Deputy Prime-Minister of Moscow Region and Minister of Investment and Innovation in Moscow Region.

“Environmental safety is of the key aspects in our Sustainability program. Since 2015, we have not send waste to landfill. We also implement an annual decrease in energy and water consumption per ton of products. These are investments into the future we want to build for our children and grand-children,” points Valery Schapov, President of Mars Russia, during the meeting.

An infrastructure project to be performed on pet food production factory in Luzhniki settlement of Stupino urban district in Moscow Region will be one of the first initiatives implemented within the agreement. Mars plans construction of new full-cycle biological treatment facilities and surface run-offs treatment facilities on the factory.

This will bring new jobs into the region. Total amount of investments will be RUB 800 million. Expected implementation period is 1Q 2021.

The agreement has a strategic importance for the company. Five out of 10 Mars factories in Russia are located in Moscow Region. The company invests in modernisation of its facilities every year. For instance, Mars invested over RUB 2 billion in 2017.