Scooping Sustainability with Best One Yet
In honor of National Food Truck Day, we’re highlighting Best One Yet —a women-owned vegan ice cream truck redefining indulgence and sustainability in Boulder, Colorado.
Street food is often synonymous with convenience, but Best One Yet proves it doesn’t have to come with the usual plastic-laden footprint. Founded by Helen Williams, this all-vegan and gluten-free ice cream truck is built on nostalgia, intention, and a deep commitment to minimizing waste.
We caught up with Helen to hear how sustainability became a core ingredient in her small business—and why it matters.
What inspired you to start a vegan ice cream truck?
I just wanted a place to go where I could order anything on the menu. And I wanted to go heavy on the nostalgia—ice cream trucks are such a big part of childhood memories, summertime, parks, beach trips, local markets. I wanted to take that feeling and switch it up to be completely vegan and gluten-free!
What’s your most popular flavor?
Can you believe I’m going to say Mint Chocolate Chip? We probably sell more of that than anything else. And don’t get me wrong I LOVE mint, but I’m just constantly surprised by that given how polarizing that flavor tends to be. My all time favorite is Cookie Dough Dream.
Why is sustainability Important to you as a small business?
Having a business is a big responsibility in that it really makes you consider how you want to show up in the world. Sometimes when we’re just going through the world as individuals it can be easy to forget what our impact looks like. But a business just sort of amplifies that in a different way. It makes us think about single use items, our trash, compost and recycling systems, food waste, etc. There are so many opportunities to do our best and make it easier for our customers to do their best, especially when they’re coming out to support what we’re doing.
What role has World Centric played in your sustainability journey?
I’m so grateful to have worked with World Centric for so many years to serve our product in as low waste ways as possible. There are so many accessible options and it’s been a big part of our brand since day one.
What advice do you have for other food trucks trying to go greener?
Definitely no styrofoam, no plastic. I know this isn’t always easy, and know small business owners have limited funding and are often faced with tough choices when it comes to how you spend your budget. But if we can think about it from a bigger picture standpoint and consider what it means for our world, it’s already an easier choice. And definitely look into what your city has to offer in terms of support! A lot of areas are offering grants, education, programs and more on greener practices for your business, including food trucks.
Small businesses have so much influence. When you lead with your values, you show your community that even small actions—like choosing a compostable cup—can serve a bigger purpose. It’s about being part of a more circular, sustainable economy. From scooping up Mint Chocolate Chip to committing to zero-plastic policies, Best One Yet proves that food trucks can be both joyful and intentional.