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A Practical Application for Measuring the Sustainability of Ben & Jerry’s Dairy Suppliers. April 2003. Agenda. Client and Team Background & Problem Statement Deliverables Methodology Timeline Budget. Client and Team. Client Andrea Asch, Manager of Natural Resource Use, Ben & Jerry’s
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A Practical Application for Measuring the Sustainability of Ben & Jerry’s Dairy Suppliers April 2003
Agenda • Client and Team • Background & Problem Statement • Deliverables • Methodology • Timeline • Budget
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
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
Unilever Sustainability Indicators • Soil fertility/health • Soil loss • Nutrients • Pest management • Biodiversity • Product value • Energy • Water • Social/human capital • Local economy
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)
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?
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
Academia Current Suppliers Government Institutions Corporations & NGOs Methodology 1. Literature Review & Interviews Global Frameworks Ag Indicators Dairy-Specific Indicators
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
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.