Meijer received two SmartWay Excellence Awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recognizing the retailer as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.
"We appreciate the EPA's continued support of our innovation and commitment to reducing our carbon footprint," said Tom McCall, vice president of logistics for Meijer, in a statement. "At Meijer, we believe that to be a good company, we must be a good neighbor, which means doing what's right for our communities and our planet."
Meijer received top honors in both the mixed carrier fleet and shipper categories, marking eight total awards in the categories since 2017.
The retailer, which operates a network of 750 trucks with more than 1,000 drivers covering 70 million miles a year, credits its ongoing innovation to testing pre-production emission reduction technology regularly in its fleet. For example, Meijer is currently testing new engines in its freight liner tractors with enhanced performance and thermal management, improving base engine fuel economy by 3.4 percent.
"According to the EPA, moving freight accounts for more than 25 percent of all fuel consumed and Greenhouse Gasses emitted by the transportation sector," McCall said, in a statement. "We're pleased to do our part to reduce those emissions."
The SmartWay Excellence Award is the EPA's highest recognition. "We commend the innovation, drive, and collaborative spirit of our partners whose efforts are helping to meet the challenge of climate change and to create a healthier environment for us all," said Sarah Dunham, director of EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, in a statement.
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