Scoop of the future: how ice-cream brand Sammontana is chilling climate impact one cone at a time

Article published on rethinkeverything.ilsole24ore.com in partnership with Il Sole 24 Ore

What does your next ice cream have to do with regenerative agriculture, food systems transitions, and climate impact? The connection is more significant than may initially appear. At Lombard Odier, we believe sustainable transformation starts in the most unexpected places, including your local ice cream parlour.

Enter Sammontana, Italy’s iconic, family-run ice cream brand, and one of the pioneers in reshaping how sweet indulgences aliginn with a healthier planet. With over 80 years of heritage and passion for innovation, Sammontana is helping redefine what it means to be a responsible food brand in a world where nearly one-third of greenhouse gas emissions come from food systems, transport, eat, and waste.³ Sammontana is an example of climate-conscious transformation within the food industry.

Things are heating up

As summer heats up across Europe and the demand for ice cream intensifies, so too does the pressure on the food industry to cool its climate impact. The food sector is entering an era of accelerating disruption. Regulatory shifts, climate shocks, water stress, and evolving consumer demands are converging⁴.

The food sector is entering an era of accelerating disruption. Regulatory shifts, climate shocks, water stress, and evolving consumer demands are converging

Sammontana’s answer? The company has taken a full-spectrum approach to sustainable innovation, from its supply chains to scooping its ice cream into a cone ready for you to bite into. Its Amando line, a plant-based gelato made from Sicilian almond milk⁵, taps into the booming market for vegan and allergy-friendly products, while slashing the footprint of traditional dairy. To put it into perspective, a litre of dairy typically generates approximately 3.2 kg of CO₂ equivalent⁶ – roughly the same greenhouse gas emissions as driving about 16 kilometres in a conventional petrol car – whereas switching to plant-based alternatives can reduce the carbon footprint by up to 70%.⁷

Emissions from meat-rich diets are 4x higher than from vegan diets

But this is more than just a switch in ingredients; it’s a blueprint for change in upstream agriculture, circular production and smart energy use.

Emissions from meat-rich diets are 4x higher than from vegan diets.⁸

Read also: Supporting the transition towards a nature-based economy

Tradition meets transition

For more than eight decades, Sammontana has served up smiles with every scoop of gelato. But behind the counter, a quiet revolution is taking place. The company’s holistic approach to sustainability touches every layer of the value chain, from farm to freezer:

Supply chains:

Prioritising sustainable sourcing of almonds, wheat, and milk, with a focus on biodiversity and regenerative agriculture.

Product innovation:

Their Amando line of almond-based vegan gelato meets the rising demand for plant-based, allergy-friendly foods, without compromising on taste.

Circular thinking:

Production waste is used to generate biogas for thermal and electrical energy, fuelling vehicles and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Smart energy:

Tri-generation plants recover heat and produce cooling energy, with a goal of reaching 100% renewable energy by 2027.

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And, in 2022, the company recovered 98% of its waste.⁹

Sammontana’s use of efficient irrigation, supplier partnerships, and clean logistics illustrates how legacy brands can lead through innovation and drive next-generation sustainability

Rewriting the food value chain

Recent research on food system ‘hotspots’ shows that companies with strong traceability, low plastic intensity, and regenerative sourcing strategies are best positioned to lead the ‘green’ transformation.¹⁰ Sammontana sits firmly in this category. Whether it’s reducing plastic packaging, regenerating soil through better sourcing, or aligning with new regulations, like the EU Deforestation Act¹¹, food brands hold the leverage, and the responsibility, to push the system forward.¹²

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Moreover, technology is turbocharging this shift. Precision agriculture, biobased inputs, and smarter logistics are no longer fringe tools. They are essential to adapting to climate and geopolitical disruptions. Sammontana’s use of efficient irrigation, supplier partnerships, and clean logistics illustrates how legacy brands can lead through innovation and drive next-generation sustainability.

Read also: Thread counts: regenerative cotton on the rise in fashion

Sustainability, served cold

Sammontana may be known for its famous gelato, but behind the scenes it’s engineering something even more substantial: a model for food transformation. It isn’t just about doing ‘less harm’, it’s about creating a regenerative model, where every scoop contributes to a cooler, cleaner economy. Its sustainability journey exemplifies how food manufacturers can lead in the transition to a low-carbon, regenerative economy. By integrating circular systems, reducing emissions across the supply chain, and innovating in response to evolving consumer and regulatory expectations, the company is aligned with the structural shifts reshaping the global food system. 

This transformation is not occurring in isolation. It reflects a broader reconfiguration of the global economy towards an end-state that is net-zero, nature-positive, socially inclusive, and digitally enabled. Companies that embed these principles into their operations today are better positioned to thrive in the sustainable markets of tomorrow.

The message is clear: sustainability is the core recipe for success.