How We Do Business

When you think about it, Ben & Jerry’s wouldn’t be Ben & Jerry’s if it weren’t for the family farms supplying the high quality dairy ingredients we depend on. Caring Dairy™  is a unique program that's helping farmers move toward more sustainable practices on the farm.

The eggs we buy for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream in the United States come from hens on Certified Humane cage-free farms. Certified Humane cage-free standards ensure that laying hens have wholesome, nutritious food, access to clean water, and adequate space to engage in normal behaviors, among other criteria crafted by veterinary professionals.

If you’ve ever had our Half-Baked™ or Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream flavors, then you’ve already had a taste of the greatness that comes from Greyston Bakery. Greyston Bakery is as committed to providing jobs and job training for individuals who face barriers to employment.

"Fair trade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie. The whole concept of fair trade goes to the heart of our values and the sense of right and wrong. Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.” Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry's Co-founder

Ben & Jerry’s is proud to stand with the growing consumer movement for transparency and the right to know what’s in our food supply by supporting mandatory GMO labeling legislation.

All businesses have greenhouse gas emissions associated with their operations – at Ben & Jerry’s, we have ours.  We know our footprint, are working throughout our operations to reduce it, and we report on progress annually.

With an eye towards closing loops in our supply chain, we even send the dairy waste from our Vermont plants back to two of the farms that supply us with fresh dairy ingredients. Our waste is put into methane digesters with other farm waste – where it generates energy to power the farms.

We make ice cream in the nicest way possible, and now the freezers we put it in are, too! Our “Lean & Green” freezers are more climate-friendly and energy efficient!

Our paperboard packaging is Forest Stewardship Council certified, which means forest wildlife, biodiversity and sustainability is protected from the start. But we aren’t stopping there!

PartnerShops are Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops that are owned and operated by youth-serving nonprofit organizations. 

Our community-conscious commitment isn't an add-on: it’s embedded in our identity as well as our Company Mission. And it has inspired over thirty years of community service, social action and just-plain-fun interaction of all kinds.  

One thing' s for sure: we’re not shy about speaking up, making a case, taking a stand, creating a campaign – or even a flavor – to build awareness and support for the social & environmental issues that we feel strongly about.