Clif Bar & Co., a manufacturer of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition food and drinks, has announced that its field marketing team has brought eight biodiesel-powered pickup trucks into its fleet. The eight new Dodge Ram 2500 turbo diesel trucks will replace gasoline-powered vehicles and reduce the fleet's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by an estimated 40 percent-about 60,000 pounds of CO2 per year.

Gary Erickson, owner and founder of the company, already drives biodiesel-fueled vehicles for personal use and said the company's move was a natural one. "We're always looking for ways to reduce our ecological footprint-it's one of our bottom lines," he said. "We're using as many organic ingredients as possible in our food, reducing waste in our packaging, greening our office space and reducing our impact on global warming by helping build wind farms and planting trees. The use of biodiesel is another important step in our ongoing journey to operate a sustainable business."

"Clif Bar has been researching alternative fuels for a few years now," said Bryan Cole, Clif Bar's director of field experience. In fact, the company has been utilizing biodiesel since October 2006 when it switched to B100-fueled trucks to transport products between its bakery and distribution center. Clif Bar also uses biodiesel to fuel the truck that transports its company-sponsored LUNA Chix professional women's mountain bike team across the United States.

The field marketing fleet's eight biodiesel-fueled trucks will be driven by the company's field marketing managers in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego and Arizona, Colorado, northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and Texas. Those eight vehicles are expected to travel more than 120,000 miles a year, bringing the company's products and environmental messages to events ranging from sports, music, lifestyle and green events in those regions.

"Right now, its ease of adaptability and availability make biodiesel a great fuel choice for our field marketing team," Cole said. "While we recognize that biofuels are just one step on our path towards sustainability, we hope we can inspire consumers and other companies to help protect the planet by sharing our experiences and exploration of alternative fuels."


This Dodge Ram 2500 turbo diesel is one of eight in Clif Bar's field marketing fleet that runs on biodiesel.