Renewable electricity, heat recovery systems, rain water harvesting and other sustainable systems and features help earn status.
Mars Chocolate North America announced yesterday that its new manufacturing facility in Topeka, Kan., has earned LEED Gold certification — an internationally accepted benchmark for designing, constructing and operating green buildings — from the U.S. Green Building Council. The roughly 500,000-sq.-ft. facility, which opened in March, produces M&M’S candies and SNICKERS bars.
“We’re proud that this state-of-the-art site engages cutting-edge environmental standards, setting an example for others to follow,” says Bret Spangler, site director - Topeka, Mars Chocolate North America. “Mars is committed to putting our Principles into Action to drive leadership in sustainability. LEED Gold certification for the Topeka facility is another shining example of our ambitious goal to make our factories and offices ‘Sustainable in a Generation.’”