To the average consumer, Los Angeles-based Performance Team's (PT) business may seem a little complex. PT handles supply chain logistics starting from coastal ports throughout the country, transporting goods to warehouse and distribution centers and then on to retail stores. Simply put, any time you wonder how your flat screen arrived in your living room, or that pair of sneakers got from China to your feet, or how any of those cosmetics became readily available for you to purchase, chances are PT helped get those products to you.
The transportation industry has been the focus of many "green" campaigns in recent years, and PT is well aware of the effects its business has on the environment. It is making a name for itself as a company that is not just going green, but is proudly green. PT's president Cliff Katab said, "Our company is committed to being an environmentally responsible organization taking pride in maintaining and enhancing environmental causes and conditions. This commitment extends to selecting business partners who share a similar philosophy. Our goal is to be a conscientious steward of the environment."
PT is a member of the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) and is a SmartWay partner. CRT consists of member companies such as Target, Gap Inc., and Wal-Mart who are dedicated to reducing truck pollution at the ports and supporting clean truck programs around the country. The SmartWay brand signifies a partnership among government, business and consumers to protect the environment, reduce fuel consumption and improve air quality for future generations. PT is not merely a silent member of these two organizations; it is putting these philosophies into practice.
PT first looked to the fleet of trucks it maintains for moving cargo to help reduce its carbon footprint. The company then took possession of more than 30 2009 Kenworth Clean Diesel Tractors. All of the containers for harbor drayage will be picked up with this equipment and will be exempt from any Clean Truck Fees from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles through 2015. In addition, PT recently acquired 50 new forklifts for warehouse facilities that meet the California .06 carbon requirements.
PT also looked for ways it could further reduce costs and include sustainability by implementing a number of innovative measures. PT, in partnership with So Cal Edison, changed out more than 1,000 existing metal halide bulbs in favor of energy saving T-5 florescent fixtures. "There could be some corner of the building where a forklift may not go for 15 or 20 minutes," said Katab, "So we installed T-5 lights on a motion sensor, so the light stays on only as long as the forklift is working there." As a result, PT's electric consumption dropped by 50 percent in 2009.
PT's commitment to green runs through every facet of the company. The company teamed with California Precision Copier to reduce photo copying by 65 percent, resulting in more than one million fewer copies in 2009. The company also changed cleaning supplies in all its business locations to environmentally friendly products and encouraged its business associates to follow suit.
Internally, PT passed out eco-friendly, reusable shopping bags to all of its 3,000 employees, promoting its Proudly Green initiative company-wide.
Katab said, "We look forward to leading our industry through initiatives that will result in a greener, brighter future."
For more information, visit www.ballantinespr.com.
- People:
- Cliff Katab
- Places:
- China
- Los Angeles