Ben & Jerry’s Environmental Operations

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Ben & Jerry’s History

• Best buddies: Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield • 1977: At Pennsylvania State University's Creamery

took an Ice Cream course• May 5, 1978: $12,000 investment- $4,000 borrowed• Burlington, Vermont • Opened an ice cream parlor in a renovated gas station • In 1979 held the first-ever free cone day, now a

nationwide annual celebration for their anniversary• Pioneered efforts to reduce their negative impact on

the environment

Ben & Jerry’s Missions

Environmental Operations

• Paper Waste

• Natural Waste

• Global Warming

• Cleaner and Greener Freezer

Paper Waste

• In 2006: new containers• Paper supplier that uses

pulp from sustainably managed forests

• Can be made from recycled paper fibers

• Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, FCS

Paper Waste

• Reduce 1,000 tons of waste per year compared to our old container.

• Years ago revolutionized unbleached paper

• Bleaching process can produce dioxin, a dangerous toxic chemical.

Production Waste• Partners with St. Albans Co-op • Main type of waste they send down the drain: A

thick ice-creamy• They have tried multiple options – Manure pit– A composting facility – Now: Methane Bio-digester.

• It creates methane energy for the farmer • There is also a “cake” solids left over from the

digester which is turned into comfy bedding for the cows

Global Warming Before

• The greenhouse gas that are associated with making our ice cream were frowned upon

• Global Warming Social Footprint: determines the minimum level of carbon emissions they can emit in order to help stabilize the concentration of CO2 in the air.

Global Warming After

• Lick Global Warming campaign: focus on how to reduce the CO2 released and to pressure Congress to take action against global warming

• Reduce global carbon emissions by purchasing higher-quality carbon offsets

• Helped Native Energy with projects– Rosebud St. Francis wind-turbine on the Pine Ridge Indian

Reservation powers a radio station providing the only source of mass communication for the community.

Global Warming: Freezers

• Now: Many freezers release nasty hydro-fluorocarbons (HFC) causing the ozone depletion and global warming

• NEW: Hydro-carbon (HC) refrigeration — which is safe for the environment and is already being used in many other countries around the world

• At least 10% more energy efficient

Global Warming: Freezers

• Since 1999

• Thermoacoustic chilling — which means using sound waves to cool the ice cream.

• Uses less energy

Global Warming: Freezers

• Now: Many freezers release nasty hydro-fluorocarbons (HFC) causing the ozone depletion and global warming

• NEW: Hydro-carbon (HC) refrigeration — which is safe for the environment and is already being used in many other countries around the world

• At least 10% more energy efficient

Hydrofluorocarbon Freezers

• Freezers now use hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs) to generate cooling.

• Leak “F-gases”, that are highly potent greenhouse gases.

Hydrocarbon Freezers

• New cleaner and greener freezer• use alternative refrigerants:

– do not contribute to global warming – the deterioration of the earth’s ozone layer

• Fall of 2008: running trials: hydrocarbon (HC) freezers: Boston and DC

• Goal: Approval for widespread commercial use from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

• Long-term goal: to make HC freezers the standard in the United States.

Hydrocarbon Freezers

Click Here to see Release of Freezer

Hydrocarbon Freezers: Impact

• 10% more energy efficient

• Do little towards global warming

• Zero impact on ozone depletion

• Good Luck on Finals

Works Cited• “Ben & Jerry’s switches to environmental container.” All Business. D&B Company, 1 May 1999. Web. 7 Dec.

2010. <http://www.allbusiness.com/ plastics-rubber/ plastics-product-manufacturing/ 285894-1.html>.• “Did You Know...” Redco Recycling. N.p., 2008. Web. 7 Dec. 2010. <http://www.redcorecycling.com/

facts1.html>.• “Global Warming.” Ben & Jerry’s Icecream. Ben & Jerry’s, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2010.

<http://www.benjerry.com/ activism/ environmental/ global-warming/>.• “Greenpeace and Ben & Jerry’s bring climate-friendly refrigeration to the US.” Greenpeace. N.p., 29 Sept.

2008. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://www.greenpeace.org/ usa/ en/ news-and-blogs/ news/ greenpeace-and-ben-jerry-s-b/>.

• “HydroCarbon Freezer.” Ben & Jerry’s Icecream. Ben & Jerry’s, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2010. <http://www.benjerry.com/ activism/ environmental/ hc-freezer/>.

• “Paper.” Ben & Jerry’s Icecream. Ben & Jerry’s, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2010. <http://www.benjerry.com/ activism/ environmental/ paper/>.

• Richards, Daniel. “Ben & Jerry’s - The Men Behind the Ice Cream.” About.com -Entrepreneurs. N.p., 2010. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. <http://entrepreneurs.about.com/ od/ famousentrepreneurs/ p/ benandjerrys.htm>.

• “Waste.” Ben & Jerry’s Icecream. Ben & Jerry’s, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2010. <http://www.benjerry.com/ activism/ environmental/ waste/>.

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