Flock Freight’s COO joins panel with EPA SmartWay and Nature’s Path on freight decarbonization

In case you missed it, Flock’s COO, Chris Pickett, joined Denise Kearns from the EPA’s SmartWay program and Manuel Gorrin from Nature’s Path Foods for a webinar in April 2024. Hosted by The Climate Collaborative, the panelists discussed opportunities to measure and reduce transportation emissions and impacts followed by an audience Q&A. You can find a summary of the webinar topics and the recording below. 

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• Denise (EPA) provided an overview of corporate social responsibility and sustainability planning across industry verticals, highlighting the increasing inclusion of transportation, and polled the audience on their company's plans. She discusses transportation as a large and growing source of emissions, with disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities. Denise finished by giving background on the EPA SmartWay program which provides tools and support to logistics partners to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
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• Manuel (Nature’s Path) introduced Nature's Path Organic Foods and their sustainability pillars and ethos, emphasizing collaboration as key to their work. He discusses their approach to measuring, tracking, and setting goals around transportation emissions and impacts. Manuel covers their programs and initiatives around transportation sustainability for both operations and employees.
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• Chris provides an overview of Flock Freight, our Shared Truckload model, and how it emerged from observations about transportation mode limitations. Chris explains how the FlockDirect^Ⓡ model works to reduce costs, damage, and emissions by better utilizing the empty space on trucks.
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• As part of the Q&A Section, Chris explains that up to 40% of emissions savings from Shared Truckload are primarily driven by improving truck utilization factors compared to LTL or TL. 
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• The speakers discuss ambitious net zero goals, the transition to electric and other alt-fuel vehicles, the importance of setting realistic targets, and actions smaller companies can take like route optimization and partnering with aligned carriers.
  
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