Mars Upcycles 1.2 Tons of Pet Food Packaging via SWAP Year 5

 In a significant move highlighting the pet care industry’s pivot toward circular economy practices, Mars—the global FMCG powerhouse behind iconic brands such as PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, and CESAR®—has announced the successful completion of the fifth consecutive year of its SWAP initiative.
 

Operating at the intersection of environmental sustainability and animal welfare, the SWAP project successfully recovered and managed 384,320 used plastic pet food pouches this year. 

Weighing in at an impressive 1,248 kilograms (1.2 tons), the collected waste was diverted from landfills and upcycled into highly durable dog play equipment and furniture. These assets were subsequently donated to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Dog Control and Shelter Center (Prawet Temporary Shelter for Dogs and Cats).

E-Commerce Integration and Consumer Engagement

Strategically scaling its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) impact, Mars integrated the 2025 SWAP initiative with its "Mars Global Adoption Weekend" campaign. The company leveraged its e-commerce partnership with Shopee to directly involve consumers in their philanthropic supply chain. 

Every Mars product purchased through the platform helped fund donations, ultimately generating over 58,200 meals valued at THB 407,400 to support four partner shelters. Simultaneously, Mars implemented a reverse-logistics model to collect the used packaging from these donations, ensuring full life-cycle accountability and minimizing the environmental footprint.
 

Dr. Susan Wan, Veterinary Expert and Cluster Director for Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand at Mars Petcare SEA, emphasized the business’s overarching vision. 

“Mars is committed to advancing sustainability alongside our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. Beyond delivering nutritionally complete and balanced pet food, we are focused on reducing environmental impact through initiatives like SWAP, while engaging consumers and partners to be part of the solution,” she noted.

Cross-Sector Partnerships Driving Tangible Impact

The operational success of this year's project was driven by robust cross-sector collaborations. Mars partnered with key non-profit organizations, including The Voice Foundation, Soi Dog Foundation, Jai Dog Rescue Foundation, alongside the BMA.

The recycled plastic pouches were innovatively manufactured into physical activity and behavioral enrichment equipment, including agility tunnels, triangular hurdles, hoop jump obstacles, and bone-shaped benches. These structural additions are crucial for enhancing the physical and mental well-being of the sheltered animals while improving the facility's overall aesthetic and functional layout.

“This initiative shows how cross-sector collaboration can drive tangible environmental and social impact—supporting animal welfare while encouraging more responsible practices in how materials are managed and reused,” Dr. Wan added.

Enhancing the Adoption Experience

For local government authorities, corporate collaborations of this scale provide essential upgrades to public facilities. Dr. Sittipol Emwisoot, D.V.M., Director of the Veterinary Public Health Division at the BMA, praised the private-public synergy.

“The landscape improvement project at the BMA’s Dog Control and Shelter Center is a strong collaboration between the BMA and Mars. The initiative enhances animal welfare, improves the quality of life for dogs at the shelter, and creates interactive spaces where prospective adopters can engage closely with dogs and cats,” said Dr. Sittipol.

As Mars, which also operates major veterinary networks like BANFIELD™ and VCA™, continues to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia, the SWAP initiative serves as a benchmark for how global pet care conglomerates can successfully marry commercial growth with scalable, localized sustainability programs.