DUBLIN, Ohio, Mar. 03- Cardinal Health today announced that it has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay® Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the EPA and industry to significantly reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution.

The SmartWay Transport Partnership brings together major freight shippers, trucking and distribution companies and trade associations to reduce emissions and positively impact the environment, while simultaneously delivering cost savings to partner companies.

Cardinal Health is one of a select number of companies to participate in this program both as a carrier - a company that owns or operates a public or private fleet; and as a shipper - a company that ships or receives items delivered by truck or rail transport.

The company earned the EPA SmartWay Carrier Partnership's highest possible score of 1.25, acknowledging its 'outstanding' commitment to utilizing commercially available fuel-saving strategies and to actively evaluating emerging technologies that can help reduce the environmental impact of its fleet. Cardinal Health was also recognized as being in the top 5 percent of all companies participating in the EPA SmartWay Shipper Partnership, in recognition of its extensive use of third-party carriers that are also members of the SmartWay Carrier Partnership.

By participating in this initiative, Cardinal Health will contribute to the SmartWay Partnership's goals to save 1.5 billion gallons of fuel, $3.6 billion in fuel costs, 14.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 215,000 tons of nitrogen oxides and 8,000 tons of particulate matter.

As an EPA SmartWay Transport Partner, Cardinal Health has committed to continue to improve its environmental performance by:

• Measuring its current environmental performance with the SmartWay Transport FLEET (Fleet Logistics Energy and Environmental Tracking) Performance Model for carriers;
• Creating an action plan for improving the environmental performance of its fleet within three years; and
• Reporting to the EPA annually regarding its progress toward achieving its environmental goals.

As an EPA SmartWay Shipper Partner, Cardinal Health has committed to continue to improve its environmental performance by:

• Shipping at least 50 percent of its goods using SmartWay Truck Carrier Partners
• Adopting recommended SmartWay Transport Shipper Strategies, which range from implementing 'no idling' policies to incorporating warehouse improvements that reduce emissions.

"We're proud to join the SmartWay Transport Partnership and to be recognized by the U.S. EPA for our work in the area of environmental sustainability," said Frank Macielak, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety for Cardinal Health. "This is an important milestone as we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and improve our overall sustainability efforts."

About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $99 billion health care services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, improving efficiency and quality, and increasing profitability. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #17 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com.