ATLANTA, June 28, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Americold (www.americold.com), the global leader in temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics to the food industry, announced today that it has been included in two annual industry lists recognizing sustainability activities in the supply chain.
Food Logistics, the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain, has named Americold as a Top Green Provider for 2016.
The Food Logistics annual Top Green Providers list recognizes companies whose products, services, or exemplary leadership is enhancing sustainability within the food and beverage industry. The list offers logistics professionals a guide to the providers, manufacturers, and software and technology companies that have found new ways to promote sustainability throughout their operations and those of their customers.
“The 2016 Top Green Providers reached a new record high for applicants and recipients, confirming the importance of sustainability in the global food and beverage supply chain,” says Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director, supply chain network, at AC Business Media. “Our industry’s continued focus on environmental stewardship and the role that growers, manufacturers, logistics companies, retailers and others play is driving heightened awareness and actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously boosting cost and energy efficiencies.”
Inbound Logistics also has nominated Americold to its sustainable provider list—the Inbound Logistics G75 Green Supply Chain Partners. The Inbound Logistics list focuses on showcasing companies that demonstrate green best practices in their supply chain, logistics, and transportation operations. The publication’s editors examined corporate sustainability initiatives, collaborative customer-driven projects, and participation in public-private partnerships; the G75 ultimately were chosen based on four benchmarks: measurable green results, sustainability innovation, continuous improvement, and industry recognition.
Americold operates a comprehensive corporate social responsibility and sustainability plan to best optimize resources. The company’s energy-saving efforts range from employing motion-activated LED lighting in warehouse spaces, to save more than 14 million kWh of electricity a year, to natural gas fuel cells and solar panels that produce more than 1.1 million kWh of energy each year. Annual energy system tune-ups ensure optimal refrigeration operations and real-time energy monitoring at each facility alerts Americold’s Energy Team should power usage fall outside of engineered norms.
Americold also supports responsible energy usage within its communities by partnering with local utility companies that operate demand-response programs. Should a utility company expect a spike in energy demand, Americold can reduce its power draw to ensure the lights and air conditioners stay on for other commercial and residential users—all without any adverse effect on environmental conditions within Americold’s temperature-controlled rooms.
In total, since 2010, Americold has saved more than 222 million kWh of electricity—enough to power 20,000 U.S. homes for a year—the equivalent of avoiding the release of more than 181 million lbs. of CO2 into the atmosphere.
“Our Corporate Social Responsibility programs began as a way to take greater ownership of how we can best utilize energy, and as these initiatives evolved, the buy-in from our associates wanting to do their part has been incredible,” commented David Stuver, SVP Distribution Support & Continuous Improvement at Americold. “Local recycling programs, waste walks, associate efficiency coaching and other programs are being integrated into our Americold Operating System to continuously evolve standard processes across our network in each of our facilities.”
These programs offer tangible benefits for Americold customers, too. By integrating Americold’s corporate social responsibility program results into their own complete supply chain sustainability metrics, Americold customers can clearly demonstrate end-to-end awareness and action plus results on a scale not matched in the food and beverage supply chain industry.
About Americold
Americold is the global leader in temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics to the food industry, offering the most comprehensive warehousing, transportation and logistics solutions in the world. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Americold owns and operates over 185 temperature-controlled warehouses, with more than 1 billion cubic feet of storage, in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina and Canada. Americold’s facilities are an integral component of the supply chain connecting food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to consumers. Americold serves more than 3,000 customers and employs 11,000 associates worldwide.
More information about Americold is at www.americold.com.
About Inbound Logistics
The Inbound Logistics educational mission is to illustrate the benefits of demand-driven logistics practices, give companies the knowledge to help them match the inbound flow of materials to their demand, and align their business process to support that shift. Inbound Logistics G75 Green Supply Chain Partners list can be found at: http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/g75-inbound-logistics-75-green-supply-chain-partners-2016/.
About Food Logistics
Food Logistics is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the world’s most recognized B2B brands. Food Logistics 2016 Top Green Providers can be found at: http://www.foodlogistics.com/article/12215335/2016-top-green-providers-list-sustainable-recycle-reuse.