2001 CERES report
Section: 1CEO StatementIn a special report entitled “How to Save the Earth”, TIME magazine declares this a “Green Century” and suggests that “real progress is within reach.” That’s comforting news for all of us. While the questions can be overwhelming, the answeres are increasingly hopeful. ‘Can we halt climate change?’ ‘Will we have enough water?’ ‘Will we create a sustainable world?’ It’s clear that the changes we’ve made and continue to make in the way we treat our planet today are going to mean a world of difference to our kids and grandkids tomorrow. It was that kind of solutions-oriented thinking that led Ben & Jerry’s to be the first U.S. brand to sign onto the CERES principles ten years ago. And it’s that thinking that has translated to hundreds of environmental initiatives for the company over the years — some small, some far-reaching — but all of which impact every aspect of our business in a positive way. As we embark on a new century, it’s more critical than ever that companies and the CEOs that lead them ‘walk the environmental talk’. That’s why I chose to add the title of Director of Social Mission to my prime responsibilities as CEO of Ben & Jerry’s. It’s a role that inspires and motiviates me every day. In my first year with the company, we took a long, hard look at the social issues that are important to us and to the people who buy our ice cream. We found that 72 percent of Americans think it’s important to take immediate steps to address global warming. Therefore, we have fefocused our social mission on that initiative — teaming up with Dave Matthews Band and SaveOurEnvironment.org, a coalition of the nation’s most influential environmental advocacy groups, to help stop global warming. Together, we’ve created One Sweet Whirled. It’s not just a new flavor, but also rather a campaign that’s out to inspire some serious changes in the way we impact our world! Through our own initiatives and other industry efforts, we believe that we can achieve a measurable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But that’s only the beginning. I hope you’ll read on to learn more about Ben & Jerry’s commitment to the environment, to join us in our efforts, and — perhaps most importantly — to challenge us to do better every year. Yves Couette |