KINGFIELD – Environmental Defense Fund today released a case study highlighting Poland Spring Water Company’s efforts to curb carbon emissions by reducing truck fleet idling time by 70 percent from 2007 to 2009.
In 2007, Poland Spring switched its truck fleet to a non-food grade biodiesel blend fuel which has reduced annual carbon emissions by an estimated 1.8 million pounds, the equivalent of taking approximately 193 cars off the road every year. The water bottling company continues to intensify efforts to improve fuel economy and decrease its fleet’s carbon dioxide emissions by reducing idling time and lowering top driving speeds.
“Significantly reducing our fleet’s idling time is a win-win. It makes good business and environmental sense because we are decreasing our fuel consumption, lowering costs, and reducing our carbon footprint by 77 tons annually,” said Chris McKenna, fleet manager at Poland Spring.
“The reduction in idling time by the Poland Spring fleet in just two years was dramatic – dropping 70 percent, from 1,400 hours in February 2007 to 380 hours in February 2009. Poland Spring’s use of technology along with individual driver responsibility drove the decrease in emissions. Environmental Defense Fund applauds Poland Spring’s efforts to reduce global warming emissions from its fleet,” said Jason Mathers, program manager for corporate partnerships at Environmental Defense Fund.
Poland Spring has been bottling water in Maine for 164 years and employs 800 full-time and seasonal employees who live in 125 communities. The company operates three bottling plants in Poland Spring, Hollis and Kingfield. The $60 million Kingfield facility, which began operations in January 2009, currently employs more than 40 people.
Poland Spring operates additional spring sources in Fryeburg, Poland, Dallas Plantation, Pierce Pond Township and St. Albans. Currently, Poland Spring is investing $4.1 million in a new spring water station project in Fryeburg and Denmark, Maine.
“Poland Spring is proud that the Environmental Defense Fund chose to recognize our efforts to help protect the environment of local Maine communities in which we operate,” McKenna said. “We are committed to doing our part to make Maine a better place to live and work through our environmental stewardship and community partnerships.”
Download the full case study at www.edf.org/greenfleet .
Review the EDF social media release at http://pitch.pe/35200.
For more information about Poland Spring in Maine visit www.PolandSpringWorksforMaine.com
