Section 2:

Environmental Policies, Organization & Management

The Ben & Jerry’s Mission Statement consists of three interrelated parts: Product, Economic and Social. Within the words of our Mission Statement, especially the social component, lies the foundation of our environmental philosophy:

To make, distribute & sell the finest quality all natural ice cream & euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients & promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.

Economic Mission
To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders & expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees.

Social Mission
To operate the company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally & internationally.

LEADING WITH PROGRESSIVE VALUES ACROSS OUR BUSINESS
We have a progressive, nonpartisan social mission that seeks to meet human needs and eliminate injustices in our local, national and international communities by integrating these concerns into our day-to-day business activities. Our focus is on children and families, the environment and sustainable agriculture on family farms.

• Capitalism and the wealth it produces do not create opportunity for everyone equally. We recognize that the gap between the rich and the poor is wider than at any time since the 1920s. We strive to create economic opportunities for those who have been denied them and to advance new models of economic justice that are sustainable and replicable.
• By definition, the manufacturing of products creates waste. We strive to minimize our negative impact on the environment.

• The growing of food is overly reliant on the use of toxic chemicals and other methods that are unsustainable. We support sustainable and safe methods of food production that reduce environmental degradation, maintain the productivity of the land over time, and support the economic viability of family farms and rural communities.
• We seek and support nonviolent ways to achieve peace and justice. We believe government resources are more productively used in meeting human needs than building and maintaining weapons systems.
• We strive to show a deep resect for human beings inside and outside our company and for the communities in which they live.

1999 SOCIAL MISSION FOCUS

• To move forward on achieving a compostable pint or ECO-Pint.
• To achieve significant gains in solid waste reduction through innovative ingredient packaging.
• To partner with the farmers who provide our milk and cream in the design of a Sustainable Agriculture Initiative with the goal of reducing adverse impacts on water.
• To partner with Greenpeace in educating customers about dioxins and about the work of Greenpeace.

Environmental Policies
Since 1992, when Ben & Jerry’s became the first public company to sign the CERES Principles for environmental responsibility, the Principles have played a key role in the development of the company’s environmental programs and policy initiatives:

• Since 1997, all uncontaminated waste oils from Ben & Jerry’s operations are re-refined by a certified handler to be reused.
• Our Contractor’s Handbook contains an Environmental Requirements section for all outside parties working at Ben & Jerry’s sites. This section outlines our policies for recycling, hazardous waste management, waste water management, protocols for spills and releases and energy saving practices. The book also contains Health and Safety requirements and Good Management Practices (GMPs).
• The general design of Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops includes environmentally-sound materials, such as floor tile made of recycled and waste glass and marble countertops made from recycled quarry waste.