Today Kohl's Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) was awarded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) 2009 SmartWay Excellence Award. This is the second consecutive year the company has been recognized for its significant efforts to protect the environment by reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation programs. This award comes on the heels of Kohl's recent recognition as the number-one green retailer in the Newsweek Green Rankings and as an EPA Green Power Partner of the Year.

EPA's SmartWay brand signifies environmentally clean, fuel efficient transportation options. Kohl's joined the EPA SmartWay program in 2007 and has been recognized with the SmartWay Excellence Award since 2008 for its support in moving toward cleaner air and helping to conserve energy. Last year, Kohl's reduced transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by 51,271 tons - that's equivalent to taking 8,457 cars off the road for a year.

"At Kohl's, reducing greenhouse gas emissions when transporting merchandise is just one way we work to reduce our environmental footprint over the long term," said Ken Bonning, Kohl's executive vice president of store planning and logistics. "We're honored that EPA is recognizing our efforts to protect and conserve the environment as we continue to look at how to reduce energy use in our daily operations."

"EPA is pleased to recognize these SmartWay Partners with a 2009 Excellence Award. I commend Kohl's Department Stores for its leadership in promoting sustainable transportation practices through the SmartWay Transport Partnership," said Margo T. Oge, director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA. "These actions demonstrate a commitment to a cleaner environment and more secure energy supply."

Transportation and Emissions Strategies Recognized by SmartWay
Transportation initiatives that helped reduce Kohl's carbon dioxide emissions last year include trucking efficiencies and cleaner transport options.

• Kohl's strives to make every mile count. When Kohl's trucks make deliveries from distribution centers to stores, the company strives to fill the trucks on the return routes. This practice of looking to fill trucks in both directions has saved 826,398 empty miles.


• More than 40 percent of Kohl's inbound merchandise is now transported by train, which is three times cleaner than over-the-road trucking.

Other Recent Green Recognition
For the past three years, EPA has recognized Kohl's with a Green Power Leadership Award, most recently the Green Power Partner of the Year, for increasing its green power purchase in one year by 255 percent - reaching 50 percent renewable energy use. In September, Kohl's was also ranked as the number one green retailer in the Newsweek Green Ranking of America's 500 largest corporations, and the 18th greenest company overall.

Kohl's Green Strategies
Kohl's has long been operating with a commitment to environmental responsibility. The company focuses on maximizing energy efficiency, minimizing waste, improving new building designs and encouraging environmental values among its associates, customers and business partners. Of note:

• Kohl's is the world's largest retail host of solar power and currently operates 79 solar locations in six sates.


• To date, more than 300 Kohl's stores have earned EPA's ENERGY STAR label for superior energy efficiency and performance


• Kohl's is an active member of the United States Green Building Council and uses their principles when designing, constructing and operating new stores, resulting in 46 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified Kohl's locations.


• Since 2008, Kohl’s stores have recycled more than 100,000 tons of cardboard, plastic and hangers.

For more information on Kohl's green initiatives or EPA's SmartWay, visit www.kohlsgreenscene.com or www.epa.gov/smartway.

About Kohl's
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. Kohl's operates 1,059 stores in 49 states. A company committed to the communities it serves, Kohl's has raised more than $126 million for children's initiatives nationwide through its Kohl's Cares for Kids® philanthropic program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.kohls.com.

About EPA's SmartWay Program
SmartWay was introduced by EPA and a select group of fifteen shipping and business leaders in 2004 as an innovative, market-based partnership to reduce fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollutants from the freight sector. Today, more than 2,200 businesses and organizations have joined the Partnership, including companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses, each working to improve their environmental performance.

Kohl's Department Stores

Kohl's Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,155 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $231 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com, join the discussion on Facebook (facebook.com/Kohls) or Twitter (twitter.com/Kohls) or get inspired on Pinterest (pinterest.com/Kohls) and Instagram (instagram.com/Kohls).

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