Unilever has secured $20.9 million from the US Department of Energy to reduce carbon emissions at four of its ice cream factories in the US.
The US Department of Energy chose this project for negotiation as part of the ‘Industrial Demonstrations Program’ because of its ability to lower emissions, contribute to local communities, and set an example for broader decarbonization efforts within the food and beverage industry.
The proposed project seeks to reduce 14,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually, making a substantial contribution to Unilever’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality for facilities that produce brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Talenti, Magnum, and Breyers.
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Unilever’s ice cream division intends to substitute natural gas boilers with electric boilers and industrial heat pumps that include waste heat recovery. Having attained 100% renewable grid electricity worldwide in 2020, Unilever is committed to transitioning all its facilities to 100% renewable energy.
The site improvements will result in a substantial decrease in carbon emissions and lay the groundwork for addressing 100% of heat-related process emissions at the factories in Missouri, Tennessee, and Vermont.
Chief Product Supply Chain Officer for Unilever’s ice cream division Sandeep Desai said, “We are making progress in our efforts to decarbonise our ice cream business, and these significant enhancements will result in a major reduction in emissions.” “This effort brings us closer to our sustainability goals while also representing a significant investment in both our business and our planet’s future.”
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