Page 26 - Port of Baltimore Magazine March/April 2011
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The Port of Baltimore
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March/April 2011
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the few distribution centers in the country that has received LEED
certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.)
MPA Trade Development Representative Rick Pagley agrees with
Searcy that the Port has found a strategic advantage by keying on
environmental initiatives. “Both REI and the Port of Baltimore have
a great concern for the effects the industry has on our environment
and are taking positive steps to minimize these issues,” said Pagley.
It’s been four years since the MPA developed an Environmental
Management System (EMS) emphasizing pollution prevention, reg-
ulatory compliance and outreach to the Port community. The MPA
continues to make strides with an increase in recycling efforts,
improved spill reporting and clean-up, reduced air emissions and
better water quality.
Along the way, REI has been kept abreast of the MPA’s progress by
Pagley. “Rick has developed a passion for stewardship and continues to
be a strong partner in influencing positive environmental momentum,”
Searcy said. “He has proven to be a strong advocate for environmental
stewardship for the MPA and proactively engages REI for feedback.”
Baltimore is also favored by REI for its “scalability to absorb
volume fluctuations,” according to Searcy. Chief among the goods
arriving at the Port are REI and Novara brand apparel and bikes
from China and Taiwan. “For technical goods — outdoor outwear,
tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and similar goods — China is a
vital manufacturing center for many products,” Searcy noted. “We
also maintain consistent direct intermodal container volumes
imported directly from many of our various retail vendors.”
Pagley added that the Port “is in a very good logistical position
to service the requirements of (REI’s) Bedford operation, and there
has been a good history of service from the ocean and inland
transportation companies.”
These factors fit well with one of REI’s key goals: “finding the most
efficient ways to transport the highest volume of goods with the least
amount of carbon-generating fuels.”
That’s what
it means to be
stewards of the
environment.
With REI, it’s all in
a day’s work, and
more importantly,
part of its core
purpose.
•
Above: Bedford Distribution Center.
Right: REI LEED-Certified Pittsburgh Store.
About
“Product
Transportation”:
REI
At-a-Glance
Based in Kent, Wash., REI is the nation’s
largest consumer cooperative, with more than
3.9 million active members.
REI operates 114 retail stores nationwide and
online stores at REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com.
REI ranks number nine in the 2011 FORTUNE
magazine “100 Best Companies to Work For”
list, and is one of only five organizations to be
named as an employer of choice since the list’s
inception in 1998.
photography courtesy of REI
