Premier is proud to announce we have partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program to work toward more cost-effective and environmentally efficient freight transportation. We recognize the impact that transportation emissions have on climate change and are committed to doing our part to help mitigate them.
The U.S. transportation system moves a staggering average of over 51 million tons of freight daily. To put that in perspective: The largest mammal that has ever lived on Earth is the blue whale, which weighs 115 tons. If blue whales were freight, we’d see almost 444,000 of the gigantic creatures being hauled along our highways or hanging over the ends of cargo ships every single day.
Imagine all the emissions generated by transporting all that freight. Experts have predicted that the emissions from global freight transportation will surpass those from passenger vehicles by 2050.
SmartWay helps companies’ global shipping practices become greener. Launched in 2004, the voluntary program encourages carriers, logistics companies, and shippers to cut back on their emissions and be more conscientious of their impact on the environment. The EPA’s goal behind SmartWay was to create a transportation partnership that helps companies and shippers become stakeholders in measuring, benchmarking and improving transportation efficiency.
“By becoming a SmartWay partner, Premier will receive resources from the EPA to benchmark our carbon footprint against companies with a similar freight footprint and comparable logistical challenges,” said Sustainability Manager Mackenzie Crigger. “SmartWay will help us be more efficient and make decisions that help lower our costs of moving goods but, more importantly, reduce the environmental impact of our shipping.”
Through the SmartWay program, Premier can track, document, and share information about fuel use and freight emissions across supply chains with other companies. This data can help us identify and select more efficient freight carriers, transportation modes, equipment, and operational strategies.
The EPA also intends SmartWay to support global energy security and reduce freight transportation-related emissions by accelerating the use of energy-saving technologies.
According to the EPA, SmartWay-certified carriers and partners have avoided emitting more than 100 million metric tons of air pollution, saved more than 200 million barrels of oil, and saved nearly $30 billion in fuel costs since the program began.
“Through our SmartWay partnership, Premier can choose to align with other companies that share our sustainability mindset on reducing emissions from transporting freight,” Mackenzie said.
Find out more about Premier’s other sustainability efforts here.