Ben & Jerry’s Environmental
Operations
Click Here: You know you want to!!
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 hydrofluorocarbons (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 hydrofluorocarbons (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
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“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/2858941.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-andblogs/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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