Title: The Exclusive and Controversial Business of Importing Ancient Arctic Ice for Luxury Drinks in Dubai
The alluring atmosphere of upscale Dubai bars may soon witness patrons savoring beverages chilled by a cube of ancient Arctic ice, transported from Greenland and transformed into an exquisitely expensive drink. This innovative business endeavor, named Arctic Ice, was founded in 2022 by two Greenlanders with a unique and intriguing business model.
The mission of Arctic Ice is to scour the fjord near Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city, for icebergs that have naturally detached from the ice sheet. According to Malik V. Rasmussen, one of the co-founders, they search for “the clearest and thereby also oldest and purest ice.” Once an appealing iceberg is identified, a crane is used to haul it onto a ship for cutting into smaller pieces and packing into insulated crates.
Greenland’s iceberg hunt: The origins of Arctic Ice, a business model that sparks controversy
A sample from each iceberg is tested in a lab to ensure there are no microorganisms or bacteria before the ice undergoes its lengthy journey. The first container, approximately 22 tons, was shipped to Dubai this year for sale to high-end bars and restaurants.
Natural resources have long been an essential aspect of the beverage industry, with ice being no exception. The traditional method of procuring ice involved chipping it from natural sources like glaciers. However, the advent of machines capable of mass-producing ice for commercial use has replaced this practice. The global market for cubes, blocks, and crushed ice reached over $5 billion in 2022.
Several attempts have been made during the past few decades to introduce natural ice commercially, but with limited success. In 2015, one company attempted to sell ice cubes carved from the Svartisen glacier in northern Norway. However, local opposition led to the abandonment of this initiative.
Rasmussen aspires to make a difference by targeting the correct market segments and harnessing the unique selling point that Arctic Ice presents. However, this business model has not been without controversy. Critics argue that it is wasteful to transport a product thousands of miles using fossil fuel-powered ships when Dubai already manufactures its ice.
Arctic Ice responds by maintaining that their operations are designed to “minimize environmental impact,” and they have future plans, such as transitioning from fossil fuel-run ships to hybrid or battery-powered vessels. They also aim to remove three times as much carbon pollution from the atmosphere as they emit, although these ambitions are for an unspecified future and some experts remain skeptical.
One of the most significant challenges lies in the vast amount of energy required to transport the ice to Dubai in refrigerated ships, as noted by Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center. She further adds that the ice could still be polluted from natural sources like wildfire smoke, dust, or volcanic ash.
Francis considers this enterprise to be “highly energy-wasteful gimmicks that appeal to ultra-wealthy individuals.” She doubts that anyone would notice the difference in taste between glacier ice and non-glacier ice.
Despite the controversy, some individuals, including Jason Box, a glaciology professor at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, support commercializing Greenland’s ice. He likens it to “fine art” and views the aesthetic value as outweighing environmental concerns. The ice’s fractal geometry creates an appealing resemblance to a tiny iceberg in a glass. “It’s like fine art,” Box told CNN, adding that patrons will likely feel a sense of sorrow for contributing to global warming while enjoying their unique ice cubes.
The Arctic Ice business model: A controversial journey from Greenland’s glaciers to Dubai’s bars and beyond
In conclusion, the story of Arctic Ice is one of innovation, controversy, and the desire to offer an exclusive experience in the beverage industry. The journey from Greenland’s glaciers to Dubai’s bars raises questions about the role of natural resources, sustainability, and consumer demand in today’s world. Whether you find it to be a novel way to harness a natural resource or an energy-wasteful gimmick, one thing is certain: The story of Arctic Ice is far from over.
