Unilever advances decarbonisation project at four US factories

The company selected by US Department of Energy for award negotiations

Unilever announced that a major project to significantly reduce carbon emissions at its Ice Cream Business Group’s four U.S. factories has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for award negotiations of up to $20.9 million of support. The proposed project would cut 14,000 metric tonnes of carbon emissions per year, a major step in moving toward carbon neutrality for the factories that produce Ben & Jerry’s, Talenti, Magnum, Breyers and other leading brands.

Specifically, Unilever Ice Cream will replace natural gas boilers with electric boilers and industrial heat pumps using waste heat recovery. Unilever reached 100 per cent renewable grid electricity globally in 2020 and is in the process of moving all its workplaces to 100 per cent renewable energy.

The facility upgrades will significantly reduce carbon emissions and will create a pathway to address 100 per cent of heat-related process emissions at the factories in Missouri, Tennessee, and Vermont.

This project was chosen as a selectee for award negotiations by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP) for its potential to reduce emissions, benefit local communities, and serve as a model for further decarbonization throughout the food and beverage sector.