A Practical Application for Measuring the Sustainability of Ben & Jerry’s Dairy Suppliers

1. A Practical Application for Measuring the Sustainability of Ben & Jerry’s Dairy Suppliers April 2003

2. Agenda • Client and Team • Background & Problem Statement • Deliverables • Methodology • Timeline • Budget

3. Client and Team • Client • Andrea Asch, Manager of Natural Resource Use, Ben & Jerry’s • Team • Carey Bylin • Ruchi Misra • Mindy Murch • Wendy Rigterink • Advisor • Greg Keoleian • Advisory Board (TBD) • Ben and Jerry’s • Unilever • Academia • Government • NGO • Other Corporations • Farmers

4. Background • Ben & Jerry’s actively sources agricultural inputs from socially and environmentally responsible suppliers • Issue-driven (BGH-free, Rain Forest Crunch, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, For A Change) • Does not use a comprehensive set of sustainability indicators to evaluate or select suppliers

5. Sustainable Ag: Triple Bottom Line

6. Unilever Sustainability Indicators • Soil fertility/health • Soil loss • Nutrients • Pest management • Biodiversity • Product value • Energy • Water • Social/human capital • Local economy

7. Soil Fertility/Health Indicator • Soil is fundamental to agricultural systems, and a rich soil ecosystem contributes to crop and livestock performance. Sustainable practices can improve beneficial components of the soil's ecosystem. Parameters: • Number of beneficial organisms (e.g. earth worms per square meter) • Number of predatory mites • Number of beneficial micro-organisms • Soil organic carbon (measure of healthy soil structure)

8. Problem Statement • What environmental, social, and economic indicators should be used to evaluate the sustainability, beginning with dairy farming? • What indicators are most practically evaluated in the field? • What criteria and metrics should be used to evaluate sustainability for each indicator? • How should the indicators be used to enhance Ben & Jerry’s decision making for selecting suppliers?

9. Deliverable • A comprehensive set of indicators for dairy that considers social, environmental, and economic factors • Scientifically valid, yet understandable to suppliers • Implementable tool • Method for modifying tool so that it can be used for other ag inputs

10. Academia Current Suppliers Government Institutions Corporations & NGOs Methodology 1. Literature Review & Interviews Global Frameworks Ag Indicators Dairy-Specific Indicators

11. Methodology 2. Screen indicators for usability (verifiability, measurability, ease of collection) 3. Develop metrics or standards for each indicator 4. Design template to evaluate supplier sustainability 5. Field-test template Dairy-Specific Indicators Usability Screen Template Field-Testing

12. Timeline Project Planning Definition of Metrics/Standards General Literature Review on Ag Indicators Create 1st Draft of Template Research on Corporate/ NGO Practices Edits March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan & Beyond Final Presentation to B&J Initiate Formation of Advisory Group Report Writing Field Testing Development of Indicators Develop Outline of Final Report *All timeframes indicate when the task will be completed.

13. Budget

14. Questions?