Whirlpool Corporation earns sixth consecutive EPA SmartWay Excellence Award; fourth consecutive High Performer recognition

Whirlpool earns EPA Smartway Excellence Award Whirlpool earns EPA Smartway Excellence Award

For the sixth year in a row, Whirlpool Corporation’s Integrated Supply Chain organization has been honored for its leadership in the categories of freight supply-chain energy and environmental performance, once again earning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Excellence Award. The EPA’s SmartWay program helps companies improve supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency.

We’re able to be successful in this program by collaborating with the carriers that we utilize to minimize the number of trucks we’re putting on the road, which benefits us, the carriers, and ultimately the consumer.

“We intentionally seek out carriers who are doing everything they can to provide the best performance in the transportation network,” said Whirlpool Corp. Transportation Sustainability Manager Kara Hegg. “That means paying attention to things like fuel efficiency, shorter turnaround times, lower emissions and reduced idle times. We’re always looking at new strategies to achieve these goals.” 

Recognized in the Shippers category, Whirlpool Corporation was also named a High Performer for the fourth consecutive year. This particular accolade acknowledges the company’s position as a leading freight shipper in the manufacturing industry. Only five percent of SmartWay shippers are nominated as semi-finalists in both categories Whirlpool Corporation won.

“SmartWay specifically allows us to demonstrate how we’re optimizing from an environmental performance standpoint as well as the efficiency of our freight operations,” said Whirlpool Corp. Director of Transportation Christy McMunn. “It’s not only the right thing to do, but it also helps us to quantify the impact that we’re having. We’re able to be successful in this program by collaborating with the carriers that we utilize to minimize the number of trucks we’re putting on the road, which benefits us, the carriers, and ultimately the consumer.”

The SmartWay Excellence award is given to a select group out of the EPA’s more than 3,700 freight supply-chain partners. The EPA recognized all SmartWay Excellence Award winners on Nov. 5 during a virtual awards ceremony.

“This award signifies that Whirlpool Corporation is continuously improving our supply chain, and that we are always looking at innovative ways to select more efficient freight carriers, transport modes, equipment, and operational strategies to not only improve supply chain sustainability,  but to lower our costs from moving goods and products,” said Liz Door, senior vice president, Global Strategic Sourcing. 

The EPA SmartWay program first launched in 2004. This year’s award used data gathered from 2018, where 99.4 percent of Whirlpool Corporation’s total miles were moved by SmartWay carriers.