Bimbo Bakeries receives recognition
HORSHAM >> For the fourth consecutive year, Horsham-based Bimbo Bakeries USA, a member of Grupo Bimbo, has received the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year — Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy.
The award was presented in recognition of Bimbo Bakeries’ company-wide commitment to energy management strategy and leadership in the baking industry.
The Sustained Excellence honor is given, at the EPA’s discretion, to organizations who have consistently earned Partner of the Year for several years in a row.
“As the largest commercial bakery in the United States, we understand how important it is to be a frontrunner in sustainability practices,” Ramon Rivera, senior vice president, supply chain, Bimbo Bakeries USA, said in a press release. “We’re so honored to receive the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award once again.”
“I applaud the 2021 ENERGY STAR Award Winners. These leaders demonstrate how energy efficiency drives economic competitiveness in tandem with environmental protection,” Anne Idsal, EPA principal deputy assistant administrator for air and radiation, said in the release.”
Key accomplishments for Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) in 2020 include:
•Continued the trend of energy savings by achieving a 5% improvement in energy intensity and a 2% reduction in absolute energy compared to 2019. This marks five consecutive years of absolute energy reduction for BBU.
• Earned ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy efficiency at 15 BBU facilities and one Grupo Bimbo facility across the country, setting the record for the most ENERGY STAR certified plants of any company in any industry.
• Earning the ENERGY STAR challenge in two commercial bread and roll bakeries. The Denver bakery earned a 27% reduction and our Ft. Worth Bakery earned a 10% reduction.
• Leveraged ENERGY STAR Partnership and accomplishments to earn Food Processing Magazine’s “Green Plant of the Year” for its Escondido, CA bakery as well as a Bronze Environmental Achievement Award for its Denver bakery.
• Expanding the use of electric vehicle fleet to 100 vehicles in 2021, after piloting five vehicles in 2020. This expands the existing fleet of alternatively fueled vehicles (compressed NG and propane) that consists of over 500 vehicles.
“Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our continued pledge to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs. We are thrilled that our efforts have again been recognized by the EPA,” Rivera added.