In 2001, each of the manufacturing sites and DC evaluated and identified the various energy savings initiatives completed over the past three years. The information collected will be used as part of the company’s five-year project to reduce CO2 emissions and to evaluate further energy savings. Ben & Jerry’s evaluates the environmental impacts of all production operations:

In 2001, Ben & Jerry’s determined that as a company we need to address the issue of global climate change from various parts of our business. In addition to the marketing campaign of One Sweet Whirled and our partnership with the Dave Matthews Band and SaveOurEnvironment.org, we’re addressing our internal contribution to global warming as well. To that end, Ben & Jerry’s CEO signed the following statement identifying our commitment to reduce CO2 emissions:

Scientists began to recognize in the early 60’s that an increase in Greenhouse Cases would make the earth warmer These gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other man-made chemicals, are the primary culprits. While each of these gases has significant environmental impacts, carbon dioxide is the most prevalent in the atmosphere. Industry accounts for approximately one-third of all carbon dioxide emissions. Ben & Jerry’s is committed to reducing our emissions and therefore will target a 10% reduction in carbon dioxide from our manufacturing facilities by 2007 over 2002 levels. To achieve this goal we have developed five key areas of focus to reduce our energy consumption and to strive toward technological advances to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.

• We will evaluate our refrigeration systems for maximum efficiency
• We will seek assistance from outside sources including Efficiency Vermont to identify energy efficiency opportunities.
• We will expand our current energy tracking system to include a calculation of Greenhouse Gas emissions.
• We will evaluate alternative energy options.
• We will provide extensive educational information to our employees, customers and suppliers regarding actions everyone can take to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.

Through our own initiatives and other industry efforts, Ben & Jerry’s believes that we can achieve a measurable reduction of Greenhouse Gas emissions.

In 2001, each of the manufacturing sites and DC evaluated and identified the various energy savings initiatives completed over the past three years. The information collected will be used as part of the company’s five-year project to reduce CO2 emissions and to evaluate further energy savings.

All electricity used in Ben & Jerry’s production facilities is purchased (vs. co-gen. and self-gen.). Our Waterbury plant uses fuel oil; Springfield uses fuel oil and liquid propane; and St. Albans uses natural gas. Ice cream manufacturing consumes a large amount of energy. Over the years Ben & Jerry’s has incorporated various energy savings activities and equipment into plant operations, including:

• Installing variable speed drives.
• Charging equipment during off-peak hours.
• Installing energy efficient lighting
• Installing energy efficient dock doors

Ben & Jerry’s continuously investigates new ways to reduce and eliminate use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), especially those used as coolants in freezer “dip-cases” at our scoop shops. The oldest dip-case models (10 years or older) contain R-502 or R-12 coolants; models 3-10 years old contain R-22 or R-124 coolants with lesser ozone-depleting qualities. All newer units contain P-134 or R-404 hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), coolants that are not considered ozone-depleters.

Except for the few old-model Vermont’s Finest trucks that have diesel cooling systems using freon R-502, most contain the newer cold plate technology which is charged electrically, cutting down on diesel emissions. The cold plates also contain the newer Freon, R-404A, which has lesser ozone-depleting qualities.

The company uses anhydrous ammonia and propylene glycol freezing systems in the manufacturing plants and the Distribution Center. These systems contain no CFCs or other ozone-depleting chemicals and have no global warming impacts.

Our most significant source of emissions is from the fuels associated with the manufacturing and distribution of our product:

In 2001, Ben & Jerry’s expanded the scope of measurement of CO2 emissions to include emissions associated with the transportation of product from our distribution center to national distribution centers. We also calculated transportation emissions from key suppliers, including our cup converter (Sweetheart Cup) and the St. Albans Cooperative.

These numbers were in addition to our current calculation of emissions from our manufacturing facilities and our own fleet of trucks. The results of the calculations:

Based on these numbers we determined the need to reduce our CO2 emissions and to develop a strategy that would clearly define our intent. A strategy will be developed in 2002.