Innovative Company Delivers Arctic Ice from Greenland to Enhance Drinks in Luxury Dubai Venues

Glitzy Dubai bars may soon offer beverages cooled by a cube of ancient Arctic ice sourced from a Greenland iceberg and transported to the emirate. This ice is no longer destined to melt into the ocean, but into a very expensive drink.

Arctic Ice, a startup company founded in 2022 by two Greenlanders, recently shipped its first container of around 22 tons of Greenland ice to Dubai for sale to high-end bars and restaurants. The company's business model is both interesting and controversial.

Arctic Ice, founded by Malik V. Rasmussen, searches the fjord near Nuuk for icebergs that have broken off from the ice sheet. They aim to find the clearest, oldest, and purest ice for their products.

When they find a suitable iceberg, they use a crane to lift it onto their ship. The iceberg is then cut into smaller pieces and carefully packed into insulated crates for transportation.

Russell Glacier and proglacial area, near Kangerlussuaq, west Greenland, courtesy of Jonathan Carrivick

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Russell Glacier and proglacial area, near Kangerlussuaq, west Greenland, courtesy of Jonathan Carrivick

Jonathan Carrivick/University of Leeds

Greenland is becoming more green, which could have significant impacts on the world.

A portion of each iceberg is carefully tested in a laboratory to ensure that there are no microorganisms or bacteria present. The ice is then transported from Greenland to Dubai. Initially, it is loaded onto one of the cargo ships that are mostly empty on their return journey to Europe after delivering produce in Greenland. From there, it is transferred to a second vessel bound for Dubai, where it is repackaged and put up for sale.

Arctic Ice is introducing a new approach to utilizing a natural resource, creating fresh economic prospects and promoting Arctic conservation.

Critics argue that transporting a product thousands of miles on fossil fuel-powered ships is inefficient, especially when Dubai has the capability to produce its own ice.

Have you ever thought about where the ice in your drink comes from? It may not be something that crosses your mind often, but the ice industry is actually a huge business.

Ice harvesting used to involve chipping ice off natural sources like glaciers, but this changed with the invention of machines that could produce ice in large quantities for bars, restaurants, and packaged bags of cubes for home freezers. The market for ice cubes, blocks, and crushed ice was valued at over $5 billion in 2022.

Despite several efforts in the past few decades to reintroduce natural ice commercially, success has been limited. In 2015, a company attempted to sell ice cubes carved from the Svartisen glacier in northern Norway, but faced challenges due to local opposition.

Rasmussen hopes that by targeting the right markets, he can make it work.

Hans Henrik Tholstrup/University of Copenhagen

Thousands of Greenland’s glaciers are rapidly shrinking. Before-and-after photos reveal decades of change

Arctic Ice has attracted controversy, which is perhaps inevitable for a business model that involves shipping a diminishing natural resource halfway across the world.

The comments under the startup’s Instagram videos are filled with criticism. One person commented, “As if you were doing a good deed for the planet… While you are helping to destroy it!” Another asked, “What is this dystopia?”

Rasmussen was surprised by the amount of hate he received on social media.

"We expected some criticism, but we never imagined it would escalate to death threats and ongoing harassment," he shared.

Arctic Ice aims to reduce its environmental impact through its operations. The company plans to replace its fossil fuel-run ships with hybrid or battery-powered vessels in the future.

Additionally, Arctic Ice has a goal of removing three times more carbon pollution from the atmosphere than it emits. However, the timeline for achieving these ambitions is unspecified, and some experts are skeptical about the feasibility of these plans.

Jennifer Francis, a senior scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, mentioned that a significant amount of energy will be needed to transport ice to Dubai in refrigerated ships.

She also pointed out that the ice could potentially be contaminated by natural sources like wildfire smoke, dust, or ash from volcanic eruptions.

"I would classify this as a fancy gimmick that wastes a lot of energy and attracts only the super-rich," she said. "I bet nobody can even tell the taste difference between ice from a glacier and regular ice."

People fill buckets with water from a water tanker truck in the Azcapotzalco neighborhood, as tensions over water scarcity in Mexico City, one of Latin America's largest capitals, are boiling over as residents in some neighborhoods protest weeks-long dry spells in their homes, in Mexico City, Mexico January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Henry Romero

Residents in the Azcapotzalco neighborhood in Mexico City are facing water scarcity issues. Tensions are rising as some neighborhoods experience weeks-long dry spells in their homes. In response, people are filling buckets with water from a water tanker truck to meet their needs. This situation highlights the challenges of water scarcity in one of Latin America's largest capitals. Photo credit: Henry Romero/Reuters.

One of the largest cities in the world could soon face a water shortage.

Rasmussen disagrees with this concern. He believes there are benefits to using ancient glacial ice. Unlike ice from tap water or mineral water, it has a neutral taste that won't alter the flavor of beverages. Additionally, its dense composition causes it to melt at a slower rate.

He mentioned that it is also about the experience. Providing individuals with the chance to taste ice "that has never been contaminated by humans" can help raise awareness about the Arctic and the fragile glaciers.

Francis acknowledged that raising awareness may be the only positive aspect of the business. However, she noted that the story of the amount of energy required to transport that ice to someone's beverage will likely not be shared.

Some people do not see any issue with the idea of making money from Greenland's ice.

Jason Box, a glaciology professor at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, believes that while some may complain, he values the beauty and history of the ice more than environmental worries.

His description of its fractal geometry compares it to a small iceberg in a glass, as he shared with CNN.

"It's similar to fine art in the way it sparks conversations among people. It also evokes a sense of sadness as they realize their role in contributing to the issue of global warming."

Editor's P/S:

The article on Arctic Ice's business model of transporting ancient glacial ice to Dubai for high-end beverages raises ethical and environmental concerns. While the company aims to create economic opportunities and promote Arctic conservation, critics question the sustainability and practicality of such a venture. The use of fossil fuel-powered ships and the potential for contamination during transportation raise valid concerns.

Moreover, the idea of utilizing a diminishing natural resource for luxury consumption seems at odds with the urgent need to protect the Arctic ecosystem. The article highlights the complex trade-offs between economic development and environmental preservation. It prompts us to reflect on our consumption habits and the long-term consequences of exploiting natural resources for short-term gains.