HORSHAM, PA — Bimbo Bakeries USA (BBU) received the 2021 Energy Star Partner of the Year—Sustained Excellence award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy in recognition of its 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,” said Ramon Rivera, BBU senior VP of supply chain. “We’re so honored to receive the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award once again.”
“I applaud the 2021 Energy Star Award Winners,” said Anne Idsal, EPA principal deputy assistant administrator for air and radiation. “These leaders demonstrate how energy efficiency drives economic competitiveness in tandem with environmental protection.”
“As the largest commercial bakery in the United States, we understand how important it is to be a frontrunner in sustainability practices,” said Ramon Rivera, BBU senior VP of supply chain. “We’re so honored to receive the Energy Star Partner of the Year Award once again.”
Key accomplishments for 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 the fifth consecutive year 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 company’s Denver facility earned a 27% reduction and its Ft. Worth, TX bakery earned a 10% reduction.
- Leveraged Energy Star Partnership and accomplishments to earn Food Processing magazine’s “Green Plant of the Year” for our Escondido, CA bakery as well as a Bronze Environmental Achievement Award for the Denver bakery.
- Expanding the use of electric vehicle fleet to 100 in 2021 after piloting five in 2020. This expands the fleet of alternatively fueled vehicles (compressed NG and propane) to more than 500.
“Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our continued pledge to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs,” Rivera said. “We are thrilled that our efforts have again been recognized by the EPA.”
The Energy Star Partner of the Year award recognizes Energy Star partner businesses and organizations in good standing that demonstrate superior leadership, innovation and commitment to environmental protection through energy efficiency and Energy Star.
For a complete list of 2021 winners and more information about Energy Star’s awards program, click here.