And the Recycled Envelope Goes To…; J.D. Smith gets green award
TORONTO — When J.D. Smith & Sons of Vaughan, Ont., reconfigured the heating system in their warehouses so the temperatures were adjusted automatically and according to zones, the company saw a near-immediate 50-percent cut in its natural-gas bills.
Hard to think of a better reason to be environmentally conscientious. And while company President Scott Smith is the first to say that it feels good to be green, he also knows it really doesn’t make sense unless it contributes to the bottom line.
Recently, his company was rewarded with the first-ever SCL/Transport Canada “Green Supply Chain Award” in honor of the company’s environmentally sound trucking practices.
Smith accepted the award at the Supply Chain & Logistics (SCL) Association’s annual conference in Toronto last week.
After the ceremony, Smith said the company was recognized for a series of environmental initiatives in addition to the extremely cost-effective re-engineering of the fleet’s heating system.
His fleet is also an early adopter of downloading engine data through the ECM to cut idling and minitor driver behavior. Smith has installed cab heaters and pursues a rigorous recycling program in the maintenance shops. He adds they have retrofitted all the lighting in their warehouses and offices with fluorescent fixtures.
Smith, who with his brother Brian run the 88-year-old company, was also president of the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA), when it led the charge in favor of obligatory speed limiters, a drive Smith says reflects both environmental as well as economic concerns.
The Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada (SCL) is a non-profit organization of business professionals interested in improving their logistics and supply-chain management skills through a comprehensive program of education, research and networking opportunities.
SCL also serves companies wishing to gain strengthened awareness of government activity affecting their supply chain operations; access to training and education opportunities; and, information on global trends in logistics.
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