Eco-Friendly Ice Cream!

Maybe it's the heat (a sweltering 110 yesterday) or possibly it's my eternal sweet tooth but all I've thought about this week is ice cream! And while it might be challenging to take environmental-friendliness into account when staring at the frosty glass in the ice cream aisle drooling over everything from Mocha Almond Fudge to Berry Berry Goodness, try to remember that there may be a downside for the environment from the production of storage of ice cream (Bummer, I know).

Refrigeration of this most well-known treat (the average American eats about 6 gallons of ice cream a year though I'm fairly sure I'm above average in that respect) calls for the use of hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) in the equipment. Although you'll find no airborne emissions (one doesn't see a lot of smoke emitting from freezers), these HFCs are dangerous when they leak into the environment either when maintenance occurs or when they're discarded. A 2004 study by the German Institute Oko-Recherche states that by 2050, emissions of all F-gases (of which 90% are HFCs) is expected to reach 5.2% of global greenhouse emissions. The impact of these emissions is equivalent to the carbon dioxide emissions of all the world's passenger vehicles in 2004.

Who knew ice cream shopping might be so tough?

To really feel as guilt-free as one can really feel when purchasing the not-so-healthiest treat within the aisle, veer towards Ben & Jerry's (the store if possible!). In their factory and at their stores, Ben & Jerry's use "Greenfreeze"A? technology that does not rely on HFCs to keep things cool. It is not to say that other ice cream companies and grocery stores won't follow suit soon, as the technology only became available in the United States a few years ago courtesy of Greenpeace scientists in Germany. Along with the ice cream giants, Haier, Whirlpool, Bosch and Panasonic have made use of the eco-friendly cooling option and soon McDonalds could follow suit.

Other delicious brands to attempt include:

Turtle Mountain So Delicious - A fantastic alternative for those lactose-intolerant folks still seeking a sweet summer treat. Turtle Mountain is made in Oregon using sustainably grown organic ingredients. Recently the company joined the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Association (FTSLA) to further support sustainable agriculture within the United States.

Living Harvest - We all know that hemp is a great alternative fabric (not as great as bamboo but that's for another post) but what about hemp ice cream?? Hemp is a sustainably grown resource cultivated the world over and Living Harvest uses it to make fantastic non-dairy frozen desserts including coffee biscotti and coconut lime flavors!

Luna & Larry Coconut Bliss - Achieving sustainability by using certified organic and fair trade ingredients, Luna & Larry also chose to use decadently rich and yummy coconut milk to lessen the ecological impacts of dairy farming. And whilst the company does sit on a dairy farm, that farm is an organic one that does not use artificial growth hormones and is currently working on a system that would convert methane gas into energy for local communities.

So try your hardest to keep these things in mind when shopping for a cool treat this summer!

Douglas Michaels Jr. writes educational articles for Green Earth News, the authority on everything Bamboo. For more information on Green Is Grand. Check out Green Earth Bamboo for bamboo sheets, bamboo clothing, duvet covers, towels and baby products, all made from the world's most sustainable and renewable resource on the planet.