STORES Magazine - December 2008 - (Page G8)

GREEN RETAILING / TRANSPORTATION Sponsored by Fuelish Measures BY FAYE BROOKMAN Safeway switches truck fleet to biodiesel afeway i s f ocusing e fforts t o reduce its environmental impact where the rubber hits the road. The supermarket chain has been a leader in environmentally-friendly ef forts, including its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiative and strategies to manage its carbon footprint, but one of its biggest moves was completed earlier this year when it converted its entire truck fleet to cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel. S dioxide emissions by 75 million pounds annually — the equivalent of taking nearly 7,500 passenger vehicles off the road. In addition to Safeway’s home state of California, events were held with environmental and community leaders in Colorado, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. In WashingFueling its extensive transportation fleet with biodiesel ton, members of Congress and officials of the EPA joined “prevents millions of pounds of carbon emissions from Safeway executives for announcements at stores. being released into the environment,” says Safeway chairBeyond switching fuel, Safeway initiated an environman, president and CEO Steve Burd. mental-awareness educational program by placing special Safeway’s trucks use a biodiesel blend that is 20 percent decals on all Safeway trucks to tout the cleaner-burning vegetable-based, specifically one that is biodiesel. Biodiesel fuel will help mostly soy oil produced in the Midwest. Industry consultant Allan Mottus says reduce carbon dioxide retailers can’t underestimate the impact “Soy is domestic, it creates jobs, it’s clean emissions by of these moves. “Americans are not just and renewable,” says Joe Pettus, Safeway’s dabbling with the environment anysenior vice president for fuel and energy. more,” he says. “While they may watch As with many alternative options, the issue pounds annually — the their pennies and not always buy ‘green’ of cost arises, but the National Biodiesel equivalent of taking products, they will reward the retailers Board cites a number of studies that suggest nearly 7,500 passenger the environmental benefits outweigh the who are doing their share to help and vehicles off the road. cost premium. Burd concurs, saying there Safeway has been identified as one.” are fewer maintenance issues with trucks Source: Safeway estimate using biodiesel. The fuel is more expensive, Doing the right thing but that the wear and tear on engines is reduced so the total Financial analysts and consultants concur. “Companies long-term costs amount to only pennies more. respond to consumer and shareholder pressures,” says Economics aside, Safeway is pushing ahead because it is David Hackett, president of Irvine, Calif.-based fuel conthe right thing to do. “We have to move toward renewables sulting firm Stillwater Associates. “They think that their and away from oil and coal as energy sources,” California shareholders and consumers want them to do the right Lt. Gov. John Garamendi said in praising Safeway at the thing from an environmental perspective.” introduction of the biodiesel trucks. “Safeway is clearly a The move to biodiesel is one piece of Safeway’s Greennational leader in addressing the greenhouse gas issue and house Gas Reduction Initiative, an overall effort to manclimate change.” age the carbon footprint while addressing climate change and alternative choices in power and construction. Regional participation Safeway is part of the Chicago Climate Exchange, the The biodiesel initiative makes Safeway, the nation’s thirdworld’s first — and North America’s only — voluntary, largest grocer, one of the first major U.S. retailers to conlegally-binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction, regvert its entire fleet of more than 1,000 trucks to cleaneristry and trading program. Membership in CCS commits burning biodiesel fuel. Safeway to reducing its carbon footprint by 390,000 tons Safeway estimates the move will help reduce carbon of carbon dioxide from the base year 2000. 75 million G8 STORES / DECEMBER 2008 WWW.STORES.ORG http://WWW.STORES.ORG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of STORES Magazine - December 2008

STORES Magazine - December 2008 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Wrap Rage Unraveled What Shoppers Think Courting a Comeback 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Cover Story: Navigating the Road Ahead Website Strategy Concept2Watch Online Customer Service International Marketing Green Retailing Online Merchandising Signage Operations Online Strategies Pricing Strategy Kiosks RFID Human Resources Loeb Retail Letter ARTS Update Point of View NRF News Retail Crossword Retail Industry Calendar Last Laugh

STORES Magazine - December 2008

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