Haworth Joins EPA Smartway Program

As a Smartway Transport Partner, Haworth met a minimum requirement that half of its shipments, by weight, are carried by Smartway transport carrier partners.

by Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 7/31/2008

We always knew Haworth was smart, but now it’s official: The office furniture manufacturer has joined the U.S. Environmental Agency's Smartway Program, a national initiative designed to promote cleaner, more fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible transportation options.

Haworth qualified to become a Smartway transport partner because Smartway transport carrier partners carry at least half of its product shipments, by weight. Other requirements include instituting a "no idling" policy for freight carriers on its property, and using Smartway partnership status as a factor in the prequalification process when adding new carriers.

Shippers, carriers, and government agencies join forces in the program in order to reduce air pollution and reduce greenhouse glass emissions. The EPA forecasts that Smartway will achieve savings of 3.3 to 6.6 gallons of diesel fuel per year, and up to 150 billion barrels of oil annually, the equivalent of taking 12 million cars off the road. All this saves $10 billion in operating costs for program partners.

The partners have committed to improving their freight-carrying options, in part by quantifying their environmental performance and setting fuel efficiency goals. Two of Haworth's 10 largest carriers are certified participants, and the manufacturer is urging the rest to join. "Since 70 percent of our freight presently is shipped by truckload, we saw an opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint in this area," says Haworth North America Transportation Supervisor, Roberta VanHarn. "Our Smartway Partnership is making this possible."