A tripling of energy costs means Australians will soon be paying more to feed their pets, according to global pet food manufacturer Mars.
Mars Petcare Australia, producers of Pal, Dine, MyDog, Pedigree, Schmackos and Whiskas, say they have no alternative but to pass the price hike on to their customers.
Mars Petcare Australia’s General Manager Barry O’Sullivan says that electricity prices have tripled in the past year and the company is now looking at alternative energy sources for its manufacturing plants.
“Looking further out and more strategically, we need a simple clear energy policy that gives confidence to investors to improve supply for the domestic market,” Mr O’Sullivan told The Australian.
Electricity prices increase costs by 10% in one year
He said the cost of the company doing business in Australia was now 10 per cent higher than a year ago and while part of the increase would be offset by lower water and energy usage, about 3 per cent would be passed on in the form of higher prices.
Mr O’Sullivan said the company’s core US business had partnered with renewable energy firms to build wind farms in the US and that it would now look at doing the same in Australia.
“That is definitely now something we will look at for Australia. How quickly and feasible is it we can partner with other large business and suppliers and customers to come together and establish a reliable and renewable source of energy to meet our needs for the future?’’ he said.
Closing the door on the fossil fuel era
Mars, Incorporated is aiming to eliminate all fossil fuel use from its operations by 2040.
Last year the company urged business and global leaders to do the same by setting ambitious goals that go beyond their national targets.
Barry Parkin, Mars’ Chief Sustainability & Health and Wellbeing Officer, said:
“This is an important moment in global political and economic history, and we absolutely must come together to solve the immense challenges facing the planet. Climate change, water scarcity and deforestation are serious threats to society. It is imperative that global businesses, like Mars, do their part to face down those threats.”
Mars to power operations with wind energy
In 2016 Mars announced a partnership with Eneco to activate a 20-turbine wind farm in Scotland that’s providing electricity from renewable sources equal to the energy needs of all its UK operations.
In 2017 Mars will activate its new wind farm partnership with Vive Energia and Envision to provide the equivalent of 100 per cent of the electricity required to power its five plants in Mexico.
