Ben & Jerry's is a Vermont-based ice cream manufacturer founded in 1978, now owned by Unilever.
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Ben & Jerry's publishes detailed annual sustainability reports and rejects carbon offsetting, but emissions intensity is worsening, not improving. Missed its 2025 SBTi targets and shifted to 2035 ones without delivery explanation. The dairy supply chain—53% of footprint—remains unverified and growing. A 2024 wastewater compliance failure and historical child labour allegations in the supply chain undermine stated ethical commitments.
Ben & Jerry's scores 41/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Fees pay for the review, never the result. Last verified May 2026.
That places Ben & Jerry's joint 343rd of 847 companies scored, and 1st of 8 in Food & Beverage (meat/dairy).
Ben & Jerry's is the highest-scoring food & beverage (meat/dairy) company we've rated.
Among the 8 major food & beverage (meat/dairy) brands we've scored, Ben & Jerry's sits 1st of 8.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
Primary target is intensity-based, not absolute.
No public water consumption figures disclosed for 2022–2024.
No TNFD disclosure.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Evidence that isn't public can count through an evidence review.
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Get in touch →Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain and Energy Source (6/10, 6/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Water Impact (3/10, 3/10).
Ben & Jerry's leads its sector. These are the next 3 down.
Danone has strong climate disclosure and verified emissions reductions, but greenwashing lawsuits undermine credibility.
See the breakdown →Nestlé has cut absolute emissions 18.6% since 2018 and reaches 95% renewable electricity, but relies heavily on unproven nature-based removals to hit 2030 targets.
See the breakdown →Müller UK & Ireland publishes sustainability targets but provides no verified absolute emissions data, no third-party assurance, and no SBTi validation despite claiming 2024 commitment.
See the breakdown →The formula and all 13 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale13 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
10 of 13 sources are independent of the company.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Ben & Jerry's is a Vermont-based ice cream manufacturer founded in 1978, now owned by Unilever. The company operates company-owned Scoop Shops and licensed franchises globally. It positions itself as a values-driven B Corporation with a mission-locked independent board, but operates within Unilever's corporate structure.
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