NORTHFIELD, IL - Since 2005, Kraft Foods' sustainability projects have saved the company more than 50 million miles in its global transportation and distribution network.

"We think about miles, piles and idles when moving our product," said Steve Yucknut, vice president, sustainability. "We're finding ways to drive fewer miles, reduce inventory piles, and eliminate idling trucks. We're collaborating with customers and suppliers. And we're using a number of high-tech innovations for our trucks and warehouses to reduce energy and CO₂ emissions."

In North America, Kraft Foods saved more than a million miles, replaced 10,000 truck shipments, and reduced 2,000 tons of CO₂ emissions by shipping wheat via waterways to its Toledo, Ohio, flour mill.

The company has purchased 11 North American hybrid direct store delivery vehicles for frozen products, with hybrid power train and electric refrigeration technology consuming 30-percent less fuel than a traditional truck, according to the company.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded Kraft Foods for its environmental excellence, innovation and creativity. As part of its participation in the EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership (www.epa.gov/smartway), the company has adopted no-idle engine policies at its shipping locations, piloted a hybrid frozen delivery truck program, and increased its use of intermodal (rail and barge) transport.

Using Oracle Transportation Management to create Project MOST (Management of Optimized Sustainable Transportation), the company measures truck movements and designs new trip segments to minimize "empty miles," eliminating more than 500,000 miles last year. Now, Kraft Foods' private fleet and its top 50 carriers use the software and Oracle has recognized the company for its work with its 2009 "Enable the Eco-Enterprise" award.

Kraft Foods' 20 largest plants and distribution centers in North America use software from Transportation/Warehouse Optimization to maximize product per truckload, taking the equivalent of 1,500 trucks off the road and more than a million off the highway system.

With a reported 5,156 vehicles in its U.S. fleet, the company ranked #72 on Automotive Fleet's 2009 Top 300 Commercial Fleets listing.

For more on Kraft Foods' global efforts, click here.