NFI Unveils “The NFI Impact”

Cherry Hill, NJ
“The NFI Impact”
NFI, one of the country’s most diverse supply chain solutions companies and a leader in supply chain sustainability, today announced the formal launch of The NFI Impact, an initiative designed to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. Since 2004, NFI has made it a priority to reduce its carbon footprint across all divisions and locations across the United States and Canada.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22, NFI is mailing its top customers a special package announcing The NFI Impact and the company’s resolve to continue to be a leader in supply chain sustainability; the entire mailing, contents, card and branded gift are made from recycled materials.

“Running a sustainable business is vital to the health of this company and the environment,” said NFI Chief Executive Officer Sidney Brown. “We work in an industry that can create a positive impact on the carbon footprint with every initiative we undertake.”

Brown continued: “Fuel conservation, reducing emissions, solar energy, recycling, and building to LEED standards: these are our guiding principles as we move forward and conduct business. By creating The NFI Impact, we are reaffirming our commitment to ourselves and the world.”

The initiative is detailed on the NFI web site here.

NFI started actively pursuing sustainability policies in 2004 when it joined the EPA SmartWay Transport Partner program. Since then it has rapidly expanded these initiatives across all of its divisions, including opening its NFI Solar division in 2009.

Other examples of sustainability tactics utilized by NFI include:

• In 2006 NFI started its BioFuel research division; by 2007 .75% of its fleet was using Biofuel, and by 2009 that number had risen to 4.4%.
• NFI is currently working to outfit its entire fleet of vehicles with Super Single tires, replacing less fuel efficient double tires.
• The fleet has had governs put on the engines so that trucks cannot exceed 62 mph.
• 85% of over 2,000 tractors operating have been switched to synthetic oil.
• In 2008 the company voluntarily instituted a 5 minute idle rule – a truck engine that idles more than 5 minutes in a stationary position is shut down.
• Battery-powered auxiliary powered units (APUs) are being installed in sleeper fleets so that drivers that would like to have heat or air-conditioning at night when parked at a truck stop, do not have to idle their engines. The power comes from the APUs.
• The corporate office maintains sustainable policies such as switching from Styrofoam to ceramic coffee mugs, using double sided printing and shifting from paper to electronic whenever possible. (Electronic faxes, electronic forms etc)
• NFI is unique in its industry in that it has created a dedicated senior management position specifically tasked with guiding the company to improve fuel efficiency while reducing emissions.

“It is in the best interests of our customers, our employees and our neighbors for NFI to pioneer and utilize the latest sustainability methods to deliver, package, store and distribute goods,” said Brown. “

NFI has been recognized with many honors for its sustainability efforts. The winner of several EPA SmartWay Excellence Awards, it was also selected as one of the Top 50 2010 Green Supply Chain Partners by Inbound Logistics. In 2010, NFI received two prestigious international awards, the Communitas Award for Green initiatives and the International Business Award (the Stevie) for Environmental Responsibility in North America.

In 2010, NFI achieved over $900 million in gross revenue through organic growth and an aggressive acquisition strategy. NFI’s growth strategy has enabled it to become a large integrated supply chain solutions provider with 5,600 employees and over 19 million square feet of owned or managed warehouse space in the US and Canada. NFI also owns over 2,000 tractors and more than 6,700 dry trailers and 500 refrigerated trailers.