Unilever and Ben & Jerry’s jointly announced today that they
plan to roll-out climate-friendly ice cream freezer cabinets in the
United States in 2012. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, along with
other iconic Unilever ice cream brands including Breyers, Good
Humor, Klondike, Magnum, and Popsicle, will soon be available in
cabinets that use at least 10 percent less energy and replace
harmful “F” gas coolants with hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants. The
new freezers will be identified with “Greener Freezer” stickers in
demonstration of Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever’s environmental
commitment to help protect the planet.
With over a hundred hydrocarbon freezers
in the market place, and the EPA's recent approval, consumers will
continue to see more of these environmentally friendly cabinets
from Unilever and Ben & Jerry's. (Photo: Business Wire)
“Over the last decade, Unilever has been at the forefront of
sustainable innovation, significantly reducing the environmental
impact of our ice cream cabinets around the world,” said Kees
Kruythoff, Head of Unilever North America. “Introduction of these
more environmentally friendly cabinets in the US is a critical
advancement for the region.”
The greener freezer program, initiated by Ben & Jerry’s in
the fall of 2008, relied heavily on Unilever’s global HC
refrigeration expertise. The undertaking was supported by a
collaborative concern to address environmental impact by both
organizations. After four years of trials and coordination, the US
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved the
technology behind the hydrocarbon freezer cabinets for use in the
US, which Unilever has used for several years across Europe and
Asia. In 2011 alone, Unilever rolled out 22,000 climate-friendly
freezers in non-US markets, resulting in a greenhouse gas emissions
reduction of 12,000 tons of CO2.
"It’s a great day when Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever’s efforts
to introduce innovative technology positively impacts the
environment," said Jostein Solheim, CEO of Ben & Jerry's.
“Since 2008, we have worked alongside Greenpeace in pursuit of a
more responsible freezer for the US. For us, this sweet success is
an environmental victory.”
Unilever’s legacy in environmental stewardship within the ice
cream sector is strong. In 2000, the company committed to stop
buying cabinets using hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs). In 2004, Unilever
started replacing these cabinets with climate-friendly HC
refrigerants. Today, Unilever has more than 900,000 HC freezers in
markets across the globe and has committed to purchasing all its US
freezers using the HC technology.
“Unilever’s leadership in eliminating HFCs from its coolers is
helping to transform the entire sector,” said Amy Larkin, business
advisor at Greenpeace who spoke at the Ben & Jerry’s program
kick-off in 2008. “HFCs are projected to comprise 10-20 percent of
the world’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years, so
this elimination is a significant step toward averting climate
change.”
Unilever’s launch of the environmentally friendly freezers
represents the latest proof point of the company’s Sustainable
Living Plan, an aggressive commitment launched in 2010 to reducing
Unilever’s environmental impact while doubling its business. The
project also aligns with Ben & Jerry’s three-part mission
statement, which holds product, economic and social issues as
equally important. Reliable refrigeration is essential to Ben &
Jerry's product quality, while the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions and strides toward energy efficiency speak to both the
social and economic missions of the brand.
About Unilever NA
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving
consumer goods with strong operations in more than 100 countries
and sales in 180. With products that are used over two billion
times a day around the world, we work to create a better future
every day and help people feel good, look good and get more
out of life with brands and services that are good for them and
good for others. In the United States and Canada the portfolio
includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry’s,
Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Consort For Men, Country Crock, Degree,
Dove personal care products, fds, Good Humor, Hellmann’s, I Can’t
Believe It’s Not Butter!, Just for Me!, Klondike, Knorr, Lever
2000, Lipton, Motions, Nexxus, Noxzema, Pond’s, Popsicle, Promise,
Q-Tips, Ragu, Simple, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Soft & Beautiful, St.
Ives, Suave, tcb, TIGI, TRESemmé, Vaseline, and Wish-Bone. All of
the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever
Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the
communities where we live, work and play, Unilever employs more
than 13,000 people across North America – generating over $9
billion in sales in 2011. For more information, visit
www.unileverusa.com or www.unilever.ca.
About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice
cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients
including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their
cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its
position on rBGH* on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are
distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in
supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben
& Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben &
Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of
Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement
emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to
the community. Contributions made via the employee-led Ben &
Jerry’s Foundation in 2011 totaled $1.98 million. Additionally, the
company makes significant product donations to community groups and
nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of
Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of
the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration
and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont
communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop
locations and fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.
* The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown and
no test can now distinguish between milk from rBGH treated cows and
untreated cows. Not all the suppliers of our other ingredients can
promise that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.
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