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:

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.

• 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.
2000 SOCIAL MISSION FOCUS
The specific social mission goals for 2000 focused primarily on environmentally related projects:
• Complete the conversion of our domestic pint packaging to the Eco-Pint.
• Inventory and analyze ingredients containing genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).
• Implement our Sustainable Agriculture Initiative with the goal of reducing adverse impacts on water.

Packaging
In 2000 we completed the conversion of our domestic pint packaging to our Eco-Pint, which is constructed from unbleached paperboard. We initiated this project three years ago following an environmental analysis of our packaging. We concluded at the time that the best environmental choice was to stay with paper and improve upon the paper we used. The unbleached paperboard in the Eco-Pint does not require bleaching. The bleaching process for paper results in the production of dioxins, which the EPA has determined are toxic.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)
We support consumers’ right to know how their food is produced and to make their own choices about what they eat. That conviction has shaped the essence of our position on recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH). With regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs), we supported the establishment of a coordinated regulatory framework within the U.S. government that allowed for full consideration of the ecological and human health implications of GMO crops, as well as for meaningful public input.

In 2000 we undertook an inventory and analysis of all ingredients with regard to genetically modified corn and soy. We found that it was virtually impossible to secure GMO-free assurances from suppliers. In addition, there was no regulatory framework in the United States to guide the definition of GMO-free. Dairy is our primary ingredient. Since we oppose the use of rBGH and due to reformulations of other ingredients, our products meet the definition of GMO-free in the European Union and Japan.