RILA JOINS U.S. EPA SMARTWAY TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP

Arlington, VA – The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is pleased to announce today that it has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Through this partnership RILA will contribute to reducing 33 to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year by 2012 by improving the environmental performance of freight operations.

“We are excited to join the SmartWay Transport Partnership; we know the advantages of this pioneering program and we want to see it thrive in order to share the benefits with our members and the retail community,” said Senior Vice President for Retail Operations, Casey Chroust.

RILA is also a member of SmartWay’s Shipper Stakeholder Committee, which will provide input to the development of the next generation of the SmartWay program, including future supply chain protocols, greenhouse gas quantification methods, data needs and requirements, Partner performance evaluations and program growth strategies.

Launched in February 2004, the SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to achieve fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of fuel per year. The Partnership brings together major freight shippers, trucking companies, railroads, logistics companies and trade/professional associations to pursue mutually beneficial efficiencies that result in emissions reductions and other environmental improvements, as well as cost savings to the companies. The Partnership currently has more than 450 Partners.

“We look forward to sharing the insights and perspectives of the retail industry, and we anticipate an industrious collaboration working alongside SmartWay’s dedicated Partners to improve the environment and help companies reduce their costs,” concluded Chroust.


Additionally, RILA will continue working with industry leaders to promote Environmental Sustainability practices as RILA hosts the first ever Environmental Sustainability and Compliance Conference on September 22-24 at the Embassy Suites in Frisco, Texas. The three-day event will feature retailers and industry leaders with firsthand experience integrating green practices into their respective companies and will feature Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III, Chairman and CEO of JCPenney, as the keynote speaker.