The award-winning ice cream brand, Jude’s has directly responded to the global climate emergency by becoming the UK’s first carbon negative ice cream brand.
Following extensive work with Professor Mike Berners-Lee - a world leading expert in carbon footprinting - and his team at Small World Consulting, Jude’s is proud to announce that it is now removing 10% more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than its remaining footprint. The family-run ice cream brand has committed to a 43% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030.
Berners-Lee, Advisor to Jude’s on Environmental Sustainability, commented, “The climate and ecological emergency has implications for every aspect of an ice cream business.
'For an ice cream producer, the big questions include what ingredients to use and how they should be produced, how to cut carbon from every part of the operation, and what else can be done to look after our world.
'It is fantastic to be working with Jude’s at the start of its passionate journey to align every aspect of the business towards the sustainability transition that the world so urgently needs”.
As a family-run, B-Corp certified business, Jude’s is making bold changes to ensure it leaves a beautiful and liveable planet for generations to come.
Winner of over 50 Great Taste awards, after eighteen years in business, Jude’s understands its contribution as part of a global ecosystem, and is now focusing on making its environmental impact as positive and meaningful as its products.
As well as working to reduce carbon emissions from both its operations and supply chain in line with limiting warming to 1.5°C, Jude’s has committed to a three-part plan to ensure it remains on track to its 2030 target.
Part One - Carbon Reduction
Jude’s has a carbon reduction roadmap which includes developing more plant-based products to be at least 50% of the Jude’s range by 2025, as well as using more environmentally-friendly packaging.
Jude’s has switched to renewable energy at its Hampshire kitchen and is working with Carbon Architecture to review opportunities for energy recovery within its operations. Jude’s will also be engaging its suppliers in a bid to create a wholly environmentally-conscious supply chain to produce its award-winning product range.
For example, Matterley Farm, milk supplier for Jude’s Tywford dairy, is part of the Winchester Downs farm cluster, who are working together for landscape, habitat and biodiversity benefits on a scale that couldn’t be achieved by working alone. The farm is undergoing its own carbon audit and developing a carbon management plan which will be implemented in 2021.
Part Two - Carbon Removal
For the emissions Jude’s can’t reduce right now, the brand is removing ten percent more carbon from the atmosphere than it is emitting. Jude’s does this by investing in nature-based solutions, through projects supporting the environment for future generations, as well as storing carbon.
Jude’s has identified partners with strong conservation credentials in the UK such as the Woodland Trust and Trees for Life. The brand is also supporting the development of Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor in South West Australia through the purchase of its carbon credits. This quarter, Jude’s has purchased 4,000 tonnes of carbon credits (CER and PER) through Carbon Neutral that have been permanently retired.
Part Three - Rewilding
In addition to its carbon removal plan, Jude’s is sponsoring Trees for Life in order to promote diversity of wildlife through rewilding the Caledonian Forest: a rich habitat found only in the Scottish Highlands. Since beginning its sponsorship, Jude’s has planted 1,000 trees, and encourages donations of trees to its grove, in a bid to create more homes for wildlife and forests of the future.
In recent years, Jude’s has become increasingly aware of its impact on the environment, and although unchartered territory for an ice cream company, Jude’s wants to lead the way in demonstrating that ice cream businesses can play a key role in the fight against climate change.
Although an ambitious commitment to reach a 43% carbon reduction by 2030 - this will involve reformulating all products, working to reduce emissions through the whole supply chain and essentially changing every area of the business.
Jude’s hopes its ambitions will inspire fellow industry members to take action and join them in challenging themselves, their businesses, their supply chains and their customers to leave this beautiful planet in the best possible shape for generations to come.
