Dec 10, 2008 10:56 AM

Representatives from 12 nations gathered earlier in December 2008, along with major big box retailers and freight carriers, for the first SmartWay International Summit. With the theme "Transforming the Global Supply Chain," the event focused on discussing collaborative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from goods movement.

The conference was hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership and the University of Michigan. SmartWay is a voluntary partnership among the government and freight shippers, carriers, and logistics companies for improving fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impacts from freight transport.

Participants shared best practices on ways to reduce the environmental impacts of shipping their goods, and exchanged ideas on methods for tracking greenhouse gas emissions. They also discussed how to implement sustainable SmartWay-type programs overseas.

Summit participants included Smartway partners Sharp Electronics, Con-Way, YRC Worldwide, NYK Logistics, and the American Trucking Associations; sponsors such as Penske, Paccar, and Navistar; and representatives from Australia, Belgium, France, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

For more information, access www.epa.gov/smartway/transport/partner-resources/internationalsummit.htm.