Wow! Ice cream might never be a guilt-free pleasure, but researchers are hoping to make the dairy indulgence better for the planet, if not our waistlines.
Unilever is developing a freeze-at-home low-carbon ice cream which it reckons will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The FMCG giant, the world’s largest producer of ice cream with brands that include Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum, hopes that a "low-carbon" product sold at room temperature and frozen at home will minimize environmental impact.
Ice cream is one of the company’s more energy-intensive products because of the need to keep it frozen during transport and storage.
Research is being undertaken in Unilever’s own laboratories with Cambridge University. Gavin Neath, Unilever’s senior vice-president for sustainability, told The Times: "We have to look at a really radical solution."
Eco-Friendly Ice Cream
Unilever Develops Freeze-at-Home Ice Cream to Reduce Emissions
Trend Themes
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Freeze-at-home Ice Cream — Opportunity for developing low-carbon ice cream that can be frozen at home, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Low-carbon Products — Disruptive innovation opportunity to create products that have minimal environmental impact, such as low-carbon ice cream.
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Energy-efficient Food Storage — Innovation potential to develop energy-efficient storage solutions for food products like ice cream, reducing energy consumption.
Industry Implications
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Food and Beverage — Industry can explore the development of eco-friendly food products, such as low-carbon ice cream, to meet consumer demand for sustainability.
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Frozen Food — Opportunity for the frozen food industry to adopt freeze-at-home solutions, reducing energy consumption in transportation and storage.
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Sustainability — Industry can focus on sustainable practices and develop innovative solutions, like low-carbon ice cream, to minimize environmental impact.