Ben & Jerry's: Scooping a Sustainable & Purposeful Business
There's a unique magic that lives in the heart of a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Imagine a scoop of sweet, creamy delight, ice cream filled with delicious flavour and a swirl of social good. That's Ben & Jerry's for you! Today, we're set to embark on a fun-filled exploration of Ben & Jerry's world, uncovering their sustainability actions, environmental footprint, and ripple effect in the food industry. We'll also discover the nuggets of wisdom other businesses can gather from their colourful journey and their role in the B Corporation community. 🍨💚
How Ben & Jerry's Scooped Into Business
Ben & Jerry's tale began in 1978 when childhood buddies Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield decided to dive into the ice cream business. Their starting point was a humble renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont. From a small scoop shop in Vermont to grocery store freezers worldwide, Ben & Jerry's has made quite a journey. But their story isn't just about churning out fantastic ice cream. It's about resilience, community spirit, and a banging approach to sustainable business.
Sustainability in the Food Industry: Ben & Jerry's Leading the Charge
When you hear Ben & Jerry's sustainability initiatives, you're looking at a kaleidoscope of strategies touching every corner of their business - economic, social, and environmental. So, "How sustainable is Ben & Jerry's?" Well, their tireless drive to do business that benefits the planet and people is the answer.
As a Certified B Corporation, Ben & Jerry's is like the super student of the class, meeting the top social and environmental performance standards, transparency, and accountability. This shiny badge is a Ben & Jerry's commitment to breaking free from the typical profit-focused business model and making a positive impact.
Ben & Jerry's Environmental Impact: A Commitment to the Planet
Ben & Jerry's is a champion of climate change action. The company is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint, with a commitment to sourcing 100% clean, renewable energy. They've already achieved this milestone at their Burlington factory.
Furthermore, their packaging plays a significant part in Ben & Jerry's environmental impact. The company has pledged to make all packaging recyclable or compostable by 2025, and they're experimenting with edible containers to cut down on waste.
Fair Trade Ice Cream and Beyond: Ben & Jerry's and Social Responsibility
Ben & Jerry's doesn't just stop at environmental sustainability. Their social mission is as important as their environmental one, reflected in their commitment to fair trade. The company sources many ingredients from Fairtrade suppliers, ensuring farmers and workers receive fair wages and operate in safe working conditions.
In line with their commitment to social equity, Ben & Jerry's has been vocal on issues like racial equality, climate justice, and LGBT rights (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender rights 🏳️🌈), sometimes even naming flavours to reflect their stance.
Lessons from Ben & Jerry's: Business with a Purpose
Ben & Jerry's is an excellent case study for companies looking to embed purpose and sustainability into their operations. Here's what businesses can learn from the way Ben & Jerry's does business:
Profit and Purpose Can Coexist
Ben & Jerry's demonstrates that businesses can be profitable while positively impacting society and the environment.
Transparency Builds Trust
At Ben & Jerry's, transparency is a key ingredient. By sharing the inside scoop on their operations, choices, and impacts, they build a strong bond of trust with customers, team members, and stakeholders.
Innovation Goes Beyond Products
Ben & Jerry's is famous for their creative ice cream flavours (Cherry Garcia, anyone?), but their knack for innovation isn't just limited to their products. They sprinkle innovation throughout their business model, always on the hunt for fresh ways to boost sustainability and make a more significant social impact.
Find out what Ben & Jerry’s does more besides Purpose, Transparency, and Innovation on their SEAR Reports. An excellent approach to observing how we can start small actions ourselves.
Ben & Jerry's and the B Corp Community
As part of the B Corp community, Ben & Jerry's is a shining example of how businesses can make a significant positive impact. Their dedication to social missions, environmental sustainability, and transparent business practices perfectly align with the B Corp ethos.
Other B Corps can learn from Ben & Jerry's strategy of embedding purpose into the core of their business model. This approach has been key to their success, helping them differentiate in a crowded market, build a loyal customer base, and foster a positive work culture.
Conversely, Ben & Jerry's also benefits from the B Corp community. Being part of this network of businesses that share their values and goals fosters collaboration and shared learning, helping to drive collective progress towards a more sustainable and equitable economy.
If you are interested to learn what a B-Corp or B-Corperation is? Make sure to read our full article on B-Corps.
Serving Up Success: Ben & Jerry's Sweet Blend of Profit & Purpose 💰💚
Ben & Jerry's isn't your average ice cream company. It's a flavorful force for good, stirring up a wave of positive change that ripples beyond their ice cream tubs.
They prove that a business can juggle profits and purpose, showing the world that companies can be powerful players in tackling social and environmental challenges. From standing up for climate justice to whipping fair trade ice cream, Ben & Jerry's actions echo their dedication to our planet and its people.
Every time we tuck into our favourite Ben & Jerry's flavour, we're not just satisfying our sweet tooth. We're backing a business that cherishes our planet and its people as much as its profits. Doing so, we're helping shape a world where businesses foster a more sustainable and fair future.
To Conclude
So, raise a spoon 🥄 to Ben & Jerry's - an ice cream company that serves us a scoop of what meaningful business looks like. Their ongoing journey of innovation and inspiration redefines the definition of business success, adding sweetness to our world. May their story spark 🌟 more companies to seek a purpose beyond profit and in doing so, churn out a more sustainable, equitable, and deliciously delightful world.
