Approximately 250 logistics professionals from across the metro Atlanta area gathered in the ballroom of Twelve Atlantic Station Nov. 6 to hear representatives of Atlanta-based international companies explain how their businesses are addressing environmental issues.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce organized the panel discussion in partnership with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Atlanta Roundtable. The forum was titled “Supply Chain Transformation: Lean, Mean and Green,” in reference to increasing environmental awareness among logistics companies.

Jon Guyett, a panelist and executive logistics leader of GE Energy, a subsidiary of General Electric Co., said that the South’s abundant natural resources, a weak dollar and increasing demand for ecologically-friendly technologies provide an opportunity to attract alternative fuel manufacturing to the region.

Mr. Guyett’s prediction is particularly relevant at this time as Broomfield, Colo.-based Range Fuels Inc. broke ground on the nation’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol production plant in Soperton Nov. 6, according to a state press release.

Gov. Sonny Perdue’s comments at the factory ground-breaking ceremony on why Range Fuels chose to build in Georgia were similar to the reasons Mr. Guyett listed as attractions for future environmental companies.

Speaking on his own company’s environmental practices, Mr. Guyett referred to Ecomagination.com, a Web site publicizing GE Energy’s environmentally friendly products, including engines that run on alternative fuels such as ethanol and organic landfill waste.

He was confident that the marketing campaign represents a company-wide commitment to alternative energy.  “Ecomagination is a way of doing business,” Mr. Guyett said.  “Once it’s on the agenda people get behind it.”

Mark Holifield, senior vice president for supply chain management at Home Depot Inc. joined Mr. Guyett on the panel to discuss his company’s Eco Options program, a system of labeling environmentally friendly products sold in their stores to help customers identify them easily.

He added that Home Depot is “working to offset the carbon footprint of our headquarters by planting trees in urban areas.”

The third panelist, Mike Owens, vice president of environmental affairs for United Parcel Service Inc., spoke frankly about the effect of environmental technology on the day-to-day operation of his company’s vehicle fleet.

“Three-dollar gas is high impact for UPS,” he said.  The company is alleviating environmental concerns and reducing its own overhead costs by using 1,629 alternative fuel vehicles as “rolling test labs” to identify efficient energy sources.

UPS currently operates vehicles that run on natural gas, propane, ethanol and electricity.

Mr. Owens said that the company is also investigating solar energy as a means of powering its facilities.  He added that the company employs industrial engineers to monitor the company’s environmental efforts.

Panelists closed the discussion by praising the chamber for helping to spread awareness of environmental issues.  The event provides “a good example of a city working with logistics companies,” on common concerns, Mr. Guyett said.

Prior to the panel discussion, the chamber presented the first Logistics Company of the Year award to 3PD Inc., a Marietta-based delivery company that recorded 56 percent revenue growth last year, according to information provided by the chamber.

The chamber presented the Logistics Professional of the Year award to Michael Miller, general manager of Modalgistics Supply Chain Solutions Corp., a company that tracks shipments made by Norfolk Southern Corp., a major East Coast railway company.

The awards will be given annually to recognize the achievements of Atlanta individuals and companies in the logistics industry.