Why is Ben & Jerry’s introducing ice cream freezer cabinets with a different refrigerant?
A — Ben & Jerry’s is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. One area of focus has been the potential effects of refrigerants on the ozone layer and global warming if accidentally released to the atmosphere. Freezer cabinet technology using Hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants is used around the globe that virtually eliminates the environmental impact due to refrigerants. This technology is not yet allowed in the US. Ben & Jerry’s is working with the US EPA to seek approval for this technology in the US. The EPA has approved a trial and Ben & Jerry’s will be testing these ice cream cabinets over the next two years. In 2000 Ben & Jerry’s parent company, Unilever stated that it will only purchase ice cream cabinets using refrigerants with zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and negligible Global Warming Potential (GWP) where commercially viable and legally allowed. Once approval of this technology can be established in the US, Ben & Jerry’s will be able to meet this commitment as
