The Ice Organisation, also known as MyIce.com is a UK Loyalty program, which launched in 2010. Ice promotes brands, goods and services that are more sustainable, with the aim of mitigating climate change through mass consumer purchase power. Like other loyalty schemes, customers are rewarded with Ice points which they earn when shopping with a retailer who is part of the program. Customers can spend their points at any Ice retailer for money off their purchase or get it for free. Depending on the retailer, customers can collect and spend Ice points either online, via the telephone or in-store.
Ice is run by Jude Thorne (CEO, former CEO of Airmiles), Steven Esom (Chairperson, Former Managing Director of Waitrose) and Tessa Tennant (President, Co-founder of the UK Social Investment Forum, and the Carbon Disclosure Project) and the scheme tries to make people think about the environmental impacts of their shopping baskets and rewards them for making more environmentally friendly purchases.
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The Ice business structure includes an advisory panel of global experts in climate change and environmental issues. The panel offers advice and guidance on partner selection criteria and programme structure. Before partners are selected, their environmental credentials are researched. This is done using information from publically available reports, provided by the partner and by certifying organisations. The company’s structure also includes the Climate Foundation, now merged with The Global Cool Foundation, which works with celebrities to mobilise mass consumer action on climate change.
In March 2011 Ice established a partnership with SSE to reward Ice customers for choosing to purchase their energy from SSE. This partnership was established due to the shared environmental credentials and sustainability visions of the two businesses. SSE has all the correct attributes to help Ice achieve its mission to “mitigate climate change through mass consumer purchase power” as it has the highest proportion of renewable generation in its fuel mix and is the largest renewable energy generator in the UK. Whilst SSE is committed to ensuring a steady and reliable supply of electricity for years to come, the company also recognises the role that increased energy efficiency can have in reducing energy demand. Many of the tariffs offered by SSE to Ice customers actively reward energy reduction and through iplan, which provides a smart energy kit with on line energy service, helps Ice customers save money and manage their energy bills. Along with advice and tips on how to optimise their energy use, iplan can reduce their bills and environmental impact.
Ice has a number of national partners, including
Ice also has a network of UK farm shops, box schemes, and food retailers who offer Ice to customers buying local and seasonal food. Customers are also able to earn and spend Ice across a wide variety of UK businesses, all of whom are more sustainable than traditional High St retailers.