Over Road and Rail, Bacardi is Recognized for Green Supply Chain by US EPA

CORAL GABLES, Fla., November 5, 2020 /3BL Media/ – Transporting bottles of the world’s most awarded spirit, BACARDÍ rum, and its family of brands across the United States, is a carefully orchestrated process that aims to continuously reduce environmental impacts while keeping up with supply chain demands. Efforts to keep sustainability top of mind throughout supply chain planning, operations, and while working with transportation partners, has earned Bacardi USA the SmartWay® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the fourth time.

Since 2008, Bacardi has partnered with Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) – well known for its sustainable logistics, transportation services, supply-chain solutions, and responsible for managing outbound domestic shipments for Bacardi in the U.S., to integrate SmartWay practices. The companies have worked together to shift shipments originating from the Bacardi campus in Jacksonville, FL, where possible, from road to intermodal rail and to leverage metrics-driven load planning, transportation and yard management systems designed to optimize "drop and hook" and full trailer moves. This, along with an appointment system that pre-schedules pickups, helps reduce wait and idle times, along with congestion. It’s not just how bottles get from point to point, it’s also in how they are packed. The company is continuously improving the optimization of loads, allowing it to maximize how much fits into a trailer, therefore reducing the number of trips required. The innovation of greener solutions never stops as Bacardi recently introduced new wrap-around cartons that cut in nearly half the material used resulting in lighter weight.

“As a family owned company with more than 158 years of heritage, we take great responsibility in ensuring that our business practices of today always keep sustainability top of mind to ensure the continued legacy of Bacardi for generations to come,” says Sami Salman, Vice President - North America Supply Chain for Bacardi. “Our teams and partners are constantly innovating and introducing new measures to keep raising the bar on environmental efforts. Bacardi is proud to be recognized as a leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.”

These efforts are contributing to a global target set by Bacardi for 2025: to reduce greenhouse gases from operations by 50% and by 25% from the overall value chain, compared to a FY15 baseline. The SmartWay platform is an essential component in measuring the goals. The SmartWay transportation footprint data is aggregated together with other operational inputs to measure progress. 

“EPA is pleased to honor these SmartWay Partners with a 2020 Excellence Award,” said Karl Simon, Director, EPA’s Transportation & Climate Division. “These shipper and logistics Award recipients continue to lead through these challenging times, working diligently to deliver to our families the goods and supplies we need each day, while contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future.”

Bacardi was one of 15 shipper and logistics companies to receive this distinction, representing the best environmental performers of SmartWay’s 3700 Partners.  This year’s awards were announced at a virtual press event hosted by the EPA with its SmartWay Partners, key stakeholders and media in attendance. 

“As a global logistics and transportation provider, Ryder is continuously expanding its expertise, infrastructure, and investments to improve customers’ operations, save time and money, and reduce carbon emissions,” said Margarita Kruyff, director of Environmental Services for Ryder. “Bacardi USA and Ryder have worked together to promote environmental and sustainable logistics through a carrier network that consists of over-the-road, intermodal, and less-than-truckload transportation solutions. In partnership with Bacardi USA’s logistics team, Ryder annually evaluates the optimal transportation solutions to support Bacardi’s raw material and finished goods domestic distribution more efficiently and sustainably.”

Find out more about sustainability commitments at Bacardi and its vision to become the most environmentally responsible global spirits company at https://www.bacardilimited.com/corporate-responsibility/

Click to download photos and video.

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.

Bacardi USA, Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of family-owned Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, PATRÓN® tequila, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, the world’s leading vermouth and the world’s favorite Italian sparkling wines, and other leading and emerging brands. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

About SmartWay

EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing air pollution. Demonstrating a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility through SmartWay provides for a more competitive business environment, while enabling partners to make freight decisions that have a positive impact on efficiency and the environment.

Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 134 million metric tons of harmful air pollution, while saving 280 million barrels of oil and $37.5 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating annual energy use in over 18 million homes. SmartWay partners also help protect clean and healthy air by significantly reducing pollution that contributes to smog, including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. For more information on SmartWay, visit: www.epa.gov/smartway/  

For more information about the SmartWay Excellence Awards, visit: https://www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-awardees    

About Ryder

Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R) is a leading logistics and transportation company. It provides supply chain, dedicated transportation, and commercial fleet management solutions, including full service leasing, rental, and maintenance, used vehicle sales, professional drivers, transportation services, freight brokerage, warehousing and distribution, e-commerce fulfillment, and last mile delivery services, to some of the world’s most-recognized brands. Ryder provides services throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In addition, Ryder manages more than 250,000 commercial vehicles and operates more than 300 warehouses encompassing approximately 55 million square feet. Ryder is regularly recognized for its industry-leading practices in third-party logistics, technology-driven innovations, commercial vehicle maintenance, environmentally friendly solutions, corporate social responsibility, world-class safety and security programs, military veteran recruitment initiatives, and the hiring of a diverse workforce. www.ryder.com