SC Johnson was honored with a SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its work as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency. SC Johnson is one of 55 companies to receive this distinction, and these companies represent the top one percent of SmartWay's more than 3,000 partners who have demonstrated superior environmental performance.
According to the EPA, moving freight accounts for over 25 percent of all fuel consumed and greenhouse gas emitted by the transportation sector. SmartWay aims to accelerate the availability, adoption and market penetration of advanced fuel efficient technologies and operational practices in the freight supply chain while helping companies save fuel, lower costs and reduce adverse environmental impacts.
"We are honored to receive such a prestigious award," said Kelly M. Semrau, Chief Sustainability Officer at SC Johnson. "As a family company, maintaining an energy efficient supply chain plays a vital role in how we define long-term success. We know that embedding sustainability into our business strategy ensures that we can provide our customers with high-quality, safe and affordable products for generations to come while also making a significant and positive impact on communities around the globe."
The EPA's SmartWay Transport program, which began in 2004, is a partnership with retailers, manufacturers, distributors, cargo owners and shippers, as well as private fleets, commercial truck and rail carriers, freight brokers, third-party logistics providers, and other organizations working to advance freight sector efficiency. SmartWay enables companies across the supply chain to exchange performance data in ways that protect the environment, enhance our nation's energy security and foster economic vitality. SmartWay partners assess and report performance using tracking tools developed in collaboration with industry leaders.
SC Johnson achieved the following results through the SmartWay program:
- Used the empty miles of other companies' private fleets, decreasing the number of overall empty miles
- Converted U.S. shipping lanes to intermodal transport, which is an efficient combination of truck and rail carrier services
- Incorporated co-shipping to decrease the amount of trucks required to ship to the same region
- Implemented load building software to increase truckload utilization and reduce the number of overall shipments, leading to a lower rate of CO2 emissions
- Used bio-diesel at Waxdale, the company's largest manufacturing plant, for spotter trucks, which are responsible for moving trailers from the trailer parking lot to and from warehouse dock doors
- Installed two 415-foot-tall wind turbines at Waxdale; in conjunction with its two co-generation systems, Waxdale runs on 100 percent on-site generated energy
"The EPA is pleased to recognize the 2013 SmartWay Excellence Award recipients. I commend SC Johnson for its superior environmental performance and leadership in advancing freight sector efficiency," said Gina McCarthy, Administrator at the EPA. "Their commitment is helping lead the freight industry to a more sustainable future."
Since 2004, SmartWay partners have saved 65 million barrels of oil, which is equivalent to taking over 5 million cars off the road for an entire year. Partners have also saved $8.1 billion dollars in fuel costs while reducing 28 million metric tons (MMT) of CO2.
The award recipients were honored at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals annual conference in Denver, Colo. from Oct. 20-23. Click here to view a list of this year's winners.
