Serendipity Ice Cream wins sustainability leadership award

Serendipity Ice Cream has won the 2010 Sustainability Leadership award at the 2010 Environment Awards for its continued strong leadership in and commitment to the ‘target sustainability @ Marrickville’ program.

Target sustainability @ Marrickville is a voluntary program run by Marrickville Council for small businesses in the area to commit to targets for reduction of CO₂, waste to landfill and water use.

Serendipity joined the program three years ago and committed to use 100% green energy (power derived from solar, wind, biomass and/or gas flaring) at its premises. Other measures undertaken by the company included: increasing by 5% total waste diverted from landfill (compared to previous year); substantially increasing the number of recycled materials used; ensuring all of its packaging is recyclable; and continuing to contribute 0.5% of turnover to environmental, community and arts organisations.

The judges were also impressed by their social commitments - including CEO Sarah Mandelson speaking at the council’s sustainability network meetings to encourage other small businesses to find ways to reduce their own footprints.