The US Environmental Protection Agency is honoring seven affiliates for raising awareness about the benefits of sustainable goods movement as part of the 2016 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge. SmartWay affiliates participating in this year’s challenge have done outstanding work reaching out to inform and educate businesses, their communities, truck drivers and other stakeholders about steps they can take to reduce freight emissions and their other environmental impacts.
“EPA commends the Affiliate Challenge honorees for their commitment, enthusiasm, and creativity in supporting our shared goals for sustainable transportation,” said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of transportation and air quality. “Their work is helping advance more sustainable systems for delivering freight, reducing its climate change impacts and improving air quality.”
EPA claims that transportation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, reportedly accounting for close to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Freight delivery accounts for nearly 40% of those emissions.
EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible to protect public health and reduce the emissions that contribute to 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 reportedly have avoided emitting more than 72 million metric tons of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change, while saving more than 170 million barrels of oil and more than $24 billion in fuel costs. SmartWay also contributes to cleaner air and healthier citizens by significantly reducing emissions of the pollution that contributes to smog.
The 2016 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Honorees are:
- American Trucking Associations
- Environmental Defense Fund
- North Central Texas Council of Governments
- Penske Truck Leasing
- Retail Industry Leaders Association
- Specialty Graphic Industry Association
- Wisconsin Clean Cities