U.S. EPA 2021 SmartWay Excellence Awards Recipients Georgia-Pacific and KBX Logistics, Building on Historic Recognition for Environmental Performance

Georgia-Pacific and KBX Logistics have done it again. The Koch Industries affiliates have received the SmartWay® Excellence Awards from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for outstanding environmental performance and leadership in their supply chain operations. KBX and Georgia-Pacific are two of 12 logistics and shipper companies to receive this distinction, representing the best environmental performers of SmartWay’s nearly 4,000 partners. KBX earned the award in the logistics category, while Georgia-Pacific received the award in the shipper category.

Georgia-Pacific

Georgia-Pacific has long been a leader in shipping, receiving the award for the fourth time builds on its impressive history of SmartWay Excellence recognition. Georgia-Pacific encourages all carrier partners to be registered SmartWay Carriers, which reduces freight transportation-related emissions by accelerating advanced fuel-saving. Carrier partners who join SmartWay can utilize the free tools to measure, benchmark, and track their efforts to increase efficiency and fuel economy. Additional efforts to reduce air emissions include investing nearly $27 million within the last year at its Green Bay Broadway mill to replace the final coal-fired boiler with a natural gas boiler that produces steam for process use and power generation. The mill’s sulfur dioxide emissions were reduced to zero, while the nitrogen oxide emissions were reduced by 90%. Georgia-Pacific is also scheduled to spend more than $14 million to take down and remove coal-handling systems, coal boilers, and other obsolete equipment and buildings.

“Georgia-Pacific’s long-standing partnership with KBX enables us to better serve our customers by managing efficient delivery of our products,” said Christian Fischer, President, and CEO of Georgia-Pacific. “Earning the EPA’s SmartWay Excellence Award is an example of how preferred partnerships with companies like KBX are important in helping us provide our customers and consumers better alternatives than what they have while consuming fewer resources.”

KBX

KBX is one of the largest dedicated fleets in the U.S., with more than 5,000 domestic daily shipments and approximately 3,000 drivers and is an integral part of the North American supply chain. KBX earned the EPA’s 2021 SmartWay Excellence Award in recognition for numerous operational efficiencies and achievements in 2020, including lowering idling and driver dwell times; improving loading and unloading efficiency; reducing emissions; experimenting with electric vehicles and autonomous technology; and upgrading assets that reduced electricity usage by 36%. KBX has also been a leader in developing and implementing innovative technology solutions to support the supply chain, such as its Loadshop digital marketplace and electronic Bill of Lading (eBOL), which offer supply chain operators the ability to optimize shipping operations for peak efficiency, safety, and transparency.

“Earning the EPA’s SmartWay Excellence Award is a testament to KBX’s critical work in the logistics industry – particularly at a time where the supply chain is under tremendous strain during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Paul Snider, President of KBX Logistics. “At KBX, we are continuously enhancing our capabilities and operations to transform the North American supply chain into one that is more seamlessly connected, efficient, and safe for operators and the customers we serve. This award underscores KBX’s dedication to innovation and sustainable operations and validation of the KBX team’s hard work.”

Georgia-Pacific and KBX are thrilled to be recognized by the EPA and its SmartWay Partners. The two companies exemplify what it means to be good stewards while positively impacting transportation efficiency and the environment.

For more information on SmartWay, please visit: www.epa.gov/smartway/