Company Among Top Program Performers and Leaders for Freight Supply Chain Efficiency
For the second year in a row, the Whirlpool Corporation Integrated Supply Chain has been honored with a 2016 SmartWay® Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award is given to industry leaders in supply-chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.
Each year, the SmartWay® Excellence awards program recognizes just one percent of the more than 3,000 top EPA’s freight supply-chain partners. This year, the Whirlpool ISC is one of only 9 companies to receive this distinction. The company was recognized in the large shipper category, which represents companies that move goods more than 500 million miles annually.
Award winners are regarded by the EPA as demonstrating environmental leadership through effective collaboration; advanced technology and operational practices; robust SmartWay data validation and reporting; communication and public outreach; and, implementation of sustainability practices in local communities.
“It’s an honor to receive this prestigious award from the EPA — and a tremendous accomplishment to win it in back-to-back years,” said Alison Jones, senior director, Logistics. “We’re proud of our commitment to the environment, which is driven by our conscience decision to ship our products as environmentally efficient as possible.”
Launched in 2004, SmartWay® is an EPA program that aims to accelerate advanced fuel efficient technologies and operational practices in the freight supply chain, while helping Partners save fuel, lower costs and reduce negative environmental impacts.
“SmartWay Shipper Partners understand that by improving supply chain efficiency they not only reduce freight transport costs, but also reduce emissions of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change,” said Christopher Grundler, Director of EPA’s Office of Transportation & Air Quality, “Participating in EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership helps these businesses move goods in a manner that is better for business and helps protect our climate.”
The 2016 SmartWay Excellence Awards were presented on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the annual meeting of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, in Kissimmee, Florida. Kara Hegg, manager, Transportation Carriers, accepted the award on behalf of the Whirlpool ISC.
Whirlpool requires contracted carriers to be SmartWay certified. Currently, 99.79 percent of North American shipments are moved with SmartWay carriers. In 2015, Whirlpool reduced fuel consumption by more than 250,000 gallons of fuel by increasing rail transportation. This reduced more than 2,700 metric tons of CO2 emissions for the year.
About SmartWay®
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing the impacts of climate change. Demonstration of a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility through SmartWay provides for a more competitive and environmentally-friendly business environment. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have saved 170.3 million barrels of oil—the equivalent of eliminating annual energy use in over 6 million homes and $24.9 billion in fuel costs. SmartWay’s clean air achievements (72.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 1,458,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 59,000 tons of particulate matter emissions avoided) help to protect the well-being of citizens.
More information on SmartWay in general: www.epa.gov/smartway/
Excellence Award recipients list: www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-awardees#tab-1