One of the many highlights during the highly successful and record-breaking 2016 International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) involved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) giving the first distinguished Energy Star Certified Commercial Bakeries recognition to 18 bakeries from five companies.
Attaining such status wasn’t easy.
In fact, the American Bakers Association began working with the E.P.A. in 2012 — before the previously held IBIE — to start up this program for the industry, said Rasma Zvaners, A.B.A.’s policy director and primary liaison for the association’s Energy and Environmental Health Committee.
As dozens of people looked on — many of whom were instrumental in getting their bakeries Energy Star certified — they heard how their hard work has paid off. Because of their efforts, these bakeries prevented more than 35,294 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) of greenhouse gas emissions and saved more than 686,000 million Btu in energy.
Congratulations to those pioneers from Bama, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Flowers Foods, Klosterman Baking and Northeast Foods.
