Similar projects to significantly reduce carbon emissions at four of Unilever’s U.S. ice cream factories won a $20.9 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy, the company announced March 25.
The proposed project would cut 14,000 metric tons 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 Unilever brands. Well, at least brands Unilever owns today.
The main part of all four projects is replacing natural gas boilers with electric boilers and industrial heat pumps using waste heat recovery. Unilever reached 100% renewable grid electricity globally in 2020 and is in the process of moving all its workplaces to 100% renewable energy.
The facility upgrades will significantly reduce carbon emissions and will create a pathway to address 100% of heat-related process emissions at the factories in Missouri, Tennessee, and Vermont.
This project was chosen for award negotiations by the Department of Energy as part of its Industrial Demonstrations Program for its potential to reduce emissions, benefit local communities and serve as a model for further decarbonization throughout the food & beverage sector.
Ironically, Unilever announced last week it’s spinning off its ice cream businesses worldwide – they account for 16% of Unilever’s global sales – and cutting 7,500 jobs, or about 6% of its workforce.
By the way, Kraft Heinz just yesterday announced it won a $170 million government grant to cut emissions and overall energy use from 10 U.S. plants.
Kraft Heinz Among Recipients of $6 Billion in Govt. Awards for Decarbonization | Food Processing
