ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — Cargill’s refined oils business in Europe has won a ‘Lean and Green Award’ for its plan to reduce transportation CO2 emissions by 20% at its Netherlands facilities between 2008 and 2012, the company announced on Nov. 28.

The award is presented by Connekt Sustainable Logistics — a program supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment — to companies that are contributing to the sustainability of logistic processes in the Netherlands.

Following an analysis of the different types of transport used at Cargill’s three refined oils plants in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, a plan has been put in place to change the load size of the trucks and the transportation type in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Using CO2 measurements in 2008 as the baseline, Cargill said it is implementing changes that are enabling it to achieve its 20% reduction objective. At the moment Cargill said it is on track to reach and surpass its 2012 target, hereby reducing its own and its customers’ environmental impact.

“We are very proud that our commitment to be a sustainable company has been recognized by the Lean and Green Award,” said Eric Hopstaken, supply chain director for Cargill Refined Oils Europe. “While this specific target will be achieved in 2012, our commitment will not end there. We are continuously looking for ways to reduce our emissions and to make our logistics as sustainable as possible. Our employees are passionate about this topic and help to come up with great ideas to make this possible. I’d really like to congratulate the team on their efforts implementing this plan. We have further commitments to reduce our CO2 by 30% in 2017 and 40% in 2022.”

Globally, Cargill said it plans to improve energy efficiency, greenhouse gas intensity, and fresh water efficiency each by 5% by 2015.

Hopstaken said, “We set these goals to ensure we are a leader in continuously improving our efforts to sustain the vitality and conservation of our natural resources. In the end it’s about the planet, the people that live there and the processes they use every day. As a global leader in nourishing people, we know we must produce food, feed and fuel in the most sustainable and efficient way possible.”