The Challenge

A national ice cream manufacturer needed to get on the corporate social responsibility bandwagon. A number of actions had already been implemented, but the results were not tracked or publicized. What’s not being measured is not being managed. More than doing right by the environment and society, this company knew that it could enhance its reputation with consumers and gain cost-saving operational efficiency by formalizing a strategy and plan. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) showed that the operation’s greatest environmental impact was methane gas from dairy cows.

Our Solution

Limited resources led the newly formed Sustainable Leadership Council to partner with a graduate team from San Francisco State University to help formulate a comprehensive strategy. With credibility and trust established, decision makers were engaged across the business to develop SMART annual goals within 4 areas – Sourcing, Water, Emissions, and Waste. Communication materials and a promotional video were created to launch the strategy and goals in front of all employees. Resources were allocated to track and report performance against goals throughout the year.

Results

Once measures were in place and the strategy was announced, leaders stayed committed to the sustainability strategy and plan. Operations also invested in a California non-profit that conducts quality audits and educates farmers on sustainability best practices to address the company’s most material environmental impacts.