BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Whirlpool Corporation's Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) is honored with a SmartWay® Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes industry leaders in supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

Each year, the SmartWay® Excellence awards program recognizes just one percent of the top 3,000 supply-chain partners of the EPA. This year, the Whirlpool Corporation ISC is one of only 9 companies to receive this distinction. Whirlpool Corporation was recognized in the large shipper category, which represents companies that move goods more than 500 million miles annually.

The selection process for the award considers factors such as environmental leadership through effective collaboration, advanced technology and operational practices, robust SmartWay data validation and reporting, communication and public outreach and implementation of sustainability practices in local communities.

"It's an honor to receive this prestigious award from the EPA -- and a tremendous accomplishment to win it in back-to-back years," said Alison Jones, Senior Director of North American Logistics at Whirlpool Corporation. "We're proud of our commitment to the environment, which is driven by our conscious decision to ship our products with environmental efficiency."

Launched in 2004, SmartWay® is an EPA program that aims to accelerate advanced fuel efficient technologies and operational practices in transportation, while helping partners save fuel, lower costs and reduce negative environmental impacts.

"SmartWay Shipper Partners understand that by improving supply chain efficiency they not only reduce freight transport costs, but also reduce emissions of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change," said Christopher Grundler, Director of EPA's Office of Transportation & Air Quality. "Participating in EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership helps these businesses move goods in a manner that is better for business and helps protect our climate."

The 2016 SmartWay Excellence Awards were presented on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the annual meeting of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, in Kissimmee, Florida. Kara Hegg -- Transportation Carrier Manager at Whirlpool Corporation -- accepted the award on behalf of the company.

Whirlpool Corporation requires contracted carriers to be SmartWay certified. Currently, 99.79 percent of North American shipments are moved with SmartWay carriers. In 2015, Whirlpool Corporation reduced fuel consumption by more than 250,000 gallons by increasing rail transportation. This reduced more than 2,700 metric tons of CO2 emissions for the year.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 97,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2015. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul,Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.

About SmartWay®

EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing the impacts of climate change. Demonstration of a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility through SmartWay provides for a more competitive and environmentally-friendly business environment. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have saved 170.3 million barrels of oil—the equivalent of eliminating annual energy use in over 6 million homes and $24.9 billion in fuel costs. SmartWay's clean air achievements (72.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 1,458,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 59,000 tons of particulate matter emissions avoided) help to protect the well-being of citizens.

More information on SmartWay: www.epa.gov/smartway/  

Excellence Award recipients list: www.epa.gov/smartway/smartway-excellence-awardees#tab-1

Video - http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/Whirlpool-Corporation.mp4 
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161116/440561LOGO

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation