Ben & Jerry's & Unilever Launch Climate Friendly Freezer Cabinets
Unilever and Ben & Jerry's announced jointly last week that they will be rolling out climate-friendly ice cream freezer cabinets in the U.S. later this year.
Ben & Jerry's, along with Unilever ice cream brands including Breyers, Good Humor and Magnum, will soon be available in cabinets that consume at least 10 percent less energy and replace harmful "F" gas coolants with hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants. The new freezers will be labeled with "Greener Freezer" stickers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved the technology behind the cabinets for use in the U.S., which Unilever has used for several years across Europe and Asia. "It's a great day when Ben & Jerry's and Unilever’s efforts to introduce innovative technology positively impacts the environment," said Jostein Solheim, chief executive officer of Ben & Jerry's. "Since 2008, we have worked alongside Greenpeace in pursuit of a more responsible freezer for the US. For us, this sweet success is an environmental victory."
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TOMRA Unites Under One Brand; Defines New Business Units
TOMRA of North America, Shelton, Conn,. a subsidiary of TOMRA Systems ASA and a global provider of advanced recycling solutions, today announced all TOMRA companies are to be brought together under one brand.
During this transformation process, the various daughter companies will be gathered within two business areas: Collection Solutions, comprised of Reverse Vending (TOMRA), Compaction and Sorting Solutions, comprised of Recycling, Mining and Food.
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Bottled Water Ban Brews Campus Controversy
The National Assn. of Convenience Stores (NACS) reported last week that at least 20 colleges and universities across the country have banned plastic bottles.
A bottled water ban has spread to more than 20 universities nationwide, with those colleges either banning the plastic bottles outright or imposing a more limited, partial ban. The University of Vermont recently ended its contract with Dasani over its concern with plastic, despite the manufacturer’s introduction of a newer bottle.
The bans are being supported by an organization called Ban the Bottle, a group that raises awareness about the economic impact associated with plastic bottles.
Students at some colleges, though, are fighting to preserve their right to use plastic. Last fall, the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., protested in favor of water bottles on campus, with one school group handing out bottled water when the administration decided to purge the containers from school vending machines.
Instead, the campus installed 31 "hydration stations" at a cost of $20,000 that allows students to refill reusable bottles. In response to the increasingly vocal issue, manufacturers released a YouTube video that it says corrects "misinformation" from the students.
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Latest Word in New Channels...
• A new research report published by The Temkin Group of Waban, Mass., rated the customer experience of 206 large companies across 18 industries. Based on a survey of 10,000 consumers in January, the survey found that only eight companies delivered excellent customer experiences. They are Sam’s Club, Publix, Starbucks, Subway, Chick-A-Fill, Aldi, Winn-Dixie, H.E.B. and credit unions. Grocery chains, fast food chains, and retailers are the top industries, earning an average rating of "good". At the bottom of the ratings are TV service providers, Internet service providers, and health plans.
• January retail sales, excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants increased .9 percent from December of 2011.
• Chesterfield County Schools in Chesterfield, Va., made two major menu changes after the death of a seven-year old who had a fatal allergic reaction to a peanut that was given to her on the school playground. The schools are no longer selling pre-packaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in elementary schools and the school system removed peanut related products from vending machines at the elementary schools.
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