People make thousands of decisions every day, but what if one of those little choices could change lives? What if it supports making a BIG IMPACT…. Join us on our journey. Together we can support more sustainable farming, creating a better world for all.
WHAT IS FRESH FUTURES®?
At Mars Wrigley®, we love making mints! Mint is an essential ingredient for many of our most loved brands including a number of our Eclipse® Mint products (Eclipse Spearmint 40g, Peppermint 40g, Intense Mint 40g Sugarfree Mints; Eclipse Spearmint 27g, Peppermint 27g Flavoured Chewy Mints).
In India, mint farmers and their communities are faced with a variety of challenges including changing weather patterns, poor soil health, low water availability, crop disease, low household income, gender inequality and educational disparity. Our Fresh Futures® program is the Australian arm of our global SHUBH Mint® program, which has been designed to create a better world for mint farmers, their families and communities in Uttar Pradesh, India.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Since 2017, with our partners, the Mars Wrigley Foundation, our non-government organisation partner Tanager, and the Pratham Education Foundation, we continue to make a BIG IMPACT.
HELPING FARMERS THRIVE
With our partner Tanager, we have trained more than 24,000 mint farmers on sustainable agricultural practices. Over this time, yields have increased by 20% and the cost of production has decreased by more than 20%. Income from mint farming has doubled and water usage in mint has reduced by 30%.
EDUCATING CHILDREN
Every child deserves an education. But for families in the mint farming and supply communities, access to quality education is challenging. Together with our partners, the Mars Wrigley Foundation and the Pratham Education Foundation, we have provided educational support to more than 949,000 children across more than 1,800 villages in Uttar Pradesh.
IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT
Changing weather patterns; worsening soil health and diseases are threatening the long-term viability of mint farming in India. With our partner Tanager, we are supporting research to develop a more sustainable and efficient mint crop to create a healthier planet and are educating farmers on better agricultural practices that will support a more climate resilient mint supply chain.
EMPOWERING WOMEN OF THE COMMUNITY
In partnership with Tanager, we are empowering women by providing training and educational opportunities. Through women farmer groups and self-help groups, women have been trained on their rights, entitlements, nutrition, health, sanitation, financial literacy, and mint farming best practices and received access to formal financial institutions.
THE WORLD WE WANT TOMORROW STARTS WITH HOW WE DO BUSINESS TODAY!
At Mars Wrigley, we believe the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. That’s why we’re supporting sustainably farmed mint. Join us on our journey. Together we can continue to improve mint communities and create a better world for all. Remember your little choice to buy Eclipse® Mints supports making a BIG IMPACT!
WHAT’S NEXT?
As we look to the future, our aim is to:
- Advance Mint Crop Resilience: Continue to provide training and support to mint farmers on sustainable agricultural practices.
- Support the Future of Farming: Empower women and young adults to elevate their role in farming communities and create an inclusive supply chain. Support these specific groups through skill development training, mentorship programs, leadership training, governance & management training and by establishing self-sustainable, self-help groups.
- Address Community Needs Beyond Mint: Explore partnerships with other private sector organisations, government and third-party experts to support methods of diversifying and increasing household income beyond mint & improve the sustainability of ground water in mint communities.
Click here to learn more about Mars Wrigley and its brands: About Mars Wrigley