Refrigeration Donations: A Sustainable Impact

About two years ago, NEB began donating gently used refrigeration units to organizations that needed them. At first, it was a modest effort—just a few units placed with local food pantries that were struggling to keep fresh produce, dairy, and other perishables safe for the families they served.

What made the program special wasn’t a big marketing campaign or a corporate mandate. It grew through word of mouth. Employees started sharing stories of small businesses in their neighborhoods, community fridges running low on reliable equipment, and local pantries trying to stretch every donation. One recommendation led to another. A single fridge turned into several. A small act turned into a movement within the company.
        
Donating surplus freezers rather than scrapping them aligns with NEB’s sustainability goals by extending product life cycles and reducing unnecessary waste. By redirecting usable equipment to organizations that can still benefit from it, the project supports waste reduction, lowering overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with disposal and replacement.

Additionally, many older freezers contain refrigerants that are being phased out due to their ozone-depleting or high global warming potential properties. Ensuring these units are either responsibly reused in the short term or properly recovered at end-of-life prevents harmful refrigerants from being released into the atmosphere. Donating newer, efficient units can also free up space in an organization’s primary refrigeration systems, reducing overloading and improving airflow. This allows existing units to operate more efficiently, lowering energy consumption and improving reliability. By easing strain on their current equipment, the organization can also reduce maintenance costs and unexpected failures, contributing to both environmental and operational sustainability.

To date, we have worked with organizations such as With Flour in Her hair, Three Sisters Garden Project, United Way of Greater Nashua, Oceanair, The Trailless Taken Farm, First Parish Newbury Food Pantry, Crane Estate, and Dominican Republic schools.