EPA honors Meijer for freight efficiency

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Meijer announced today that it has received an Environmental Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency SmartWay Transport Partnership for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve energy from its transportation and freight activities.

According to Meijer, its efforts to become more efficient reulted in more than 2.5 million fewer miles driven by the company during the last fiscal year, while still delivering equal amounts of merchandise to Meijer stores and facilities. Reducing the amount of miles driven also saved nearly 385,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which resulted in a reduction of more than 4,200 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

"Our partnership with SmartWay Transport is an ideal situation, because it allows us to reinforce what Meijer is all about," said Mark Murray, president of Meijer. "Meijer focuses on health and wellness on a daily basis. Whether it's offering organic foods, providing free antibiotics or working toward a cleaner environment, what's good for our customers and team members is simply good business for us."

SmartWay was introduced by EPA and a select group of fifteen shipping and business leaders in 2004 as an innovative, market-based partnership to reduce fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollutants from the freight sector.