US Gain, Unilever partner to construct large CNG station
US Gain, the compressed natural gas (CNG) division of US Venture, has partnered with Unilever to build a GAIN Clean Fueling CNG fueling station in Edwardsville IL, just east of the St Louis MO metro area. The station, located at 4120 Lakeview Corporate Drive, will be the largest GAIN Clean Fuel station US Gain has built to date.
“This partnership establishes a relationship between GAIN Clean Fuel and Unilever, one of the top consumer packaged goods companies in the world,” said Bill Renz, general manager for US Gain.
“We’re excited to be helping such a recognizable brand achieve its sustainability goals.”
The agreement calls for Unilever to purchase 800,000 gallons of GAIN Clean Fuel CNG per year.
The Edwardsville station not only gives Unilever’s carriers a strategic fueling location, but also contributes to Unilever’s commitment to reduce its impact on the environment and improve sustainability efforts. Unilever’s North America headquarters are in Englewood Cliffs NJ. One of the firm’s goals is to improve the health and well-being of a billion people on the planet by the year 2020 and, for this reason, is beginning to use GAIN CNG.
“We’ve made significant investments to reduce our costs while lowering our environmental footprint by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, water use, and waste.” said Camille Z Chammas, vice-president–procurement at Unilever. “We focus on energy reduction in our own manufacturing operations and also with our suppliers. The use of GAIN Clean Fuel is important part of this program.”
CNG produces less emission than its diesel fuel equivalent. It also provides a cost savings compared with the diesel fuel equivalent and is domestically produced, which insulates it from the price volatility inherent in other fuel options.
Unilever had announced earlier in June that it had already saved 1 million tonnes of CO2 in its factory network. Energy consumption has been reduced by 20%—the same energy used to run 40 factories or the equivalent in carbon of more than 800,000 acres of forest in one year.
The company’s decision to incorporate CNG into its logistics network was led by recommendations from BreakthroughFuel, a supply chain management and transportation advisory firm.
With the addition of the St Louis-area location, US Gain continues to work towards its goal of having more than 100 GAIN Clean Fuel stations in operation through North America within the next two years. The Edwardsville location will open in June 2015 and will be available for use by other companies and the general public.
Access www.gainfuel.com or www.unilever.com for complete information.