MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 2008, FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) announced it would seek to reduce carbon emissions intensity from its FedEx Express aircraft and improve the fuel efficiency of its FedEx Express vehicle fleet by 20 percent by 2020, as compared with its 2005 performance. Less than five years later, FedEx has nearly achieved these goals and is today announcing a revised, more aggressive target that continues to move the world’s largest express transportation company forward in an environmentally-conscious manner.
These efforts are detailed in the company’s fourth annual Global Citizenship Report, released today online. Also featured in the report are successes in the company’s other focus areas of Economics & Access, People & Workplace and Community & Disaster Relief.
“FedEx is dedicated to providing sustainable solutions for our customers,” said Mitch Jackson, staff vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corp. “This year’s Global Citizenship Report showcases our tireless efforts to maximize our efficiency while advancing our commitment to connect the world in responsible and resourceful ways.”
Environment
With its 2008 emissions reduction and fuel efficiency goals, FedEx set the stage for industry-leading environmental action and public advocacy. As the latest Global Citizenship Report details, FedEx is well on its way to achieving the 20 percent aircraft emissions intensity reduction and fuel efficiency improvement goals it set for 2020, having reduced aircraft emissions intensity by 13.8 percent and improved vehicle fuel efficiency by 16.6 percent at the end of its fiscal year 2011. Consequently, FedEx has increased its aircraft emissions goal by 50 percent, to a 30 percent reduction in global aircraft emissions intensity by its original 2020 target date. FedEx has also reaffirmed its commitment to sourcing at least 30 percent of its jet fuel from alternative fuels by the year 2030.
FedEx has achieved these energy efficiency and sustainability milestones through EarthSmart Innovations and EarthSmart @ Work—specifically, its Fuel Sense initiative and its innovative “Reduce, Replace, Revolutionize” approach to network management.
In the last year, FedEx has:
- Continued aircraft fleet replacements. By 2015, FedEx Express will have replaced all of its less-efficient 727s with more fuel-efficient and greater payload 757 aircraft. The company is also continuing to introduce Boeing 777F aircraft, which use 18 percent less fuel than the MD-11 aircraft while also providing greater payload capacity. Further, FedEx Express plans to introduce the new Boeing 767 aircraft into its fleet in 2013, which will further contribute to its ability to meet the newly-revised aircraft emissions intensity reduction target.
- Continued on-the-road deployments of all-electric commercial vehicles in cities around the globe. These advanced vehicles operate alongside fuel-efficient Sprinter vans which FedEx continues to bring into service, hybrid vehicles and novel, innovative delivery solutions such as electric-powered tricycles in Paris. In its fiscal year 2012, FedEx Express increased the size of its advanced alternative-vehicle fleet by 18 percent, with a total of 364 hybrid-electric vehicles and 118 electric vehicles in service. To date, these vehicles have traveled a total of 12.1 million miles and conserved 345,000 gallons of fuel.
- Introduced FedEx Carbon-Neutral Envelope Shipping, a no-cost-to-consumers program that helps improve the carbon footprint not only at FedEx, but also for its customers’ businesses. FedEx calculates that the annual carbon emissions offset by this program is equivalent to planting 2,179,487 tree seedlings and letting them grow for 10 years.
- Continued to improve upon its network-wide recycling efforts, collecting 47.9 million pounds of recyclable waste in FY11—an increase of more than 6 million pounds from FY10.
Community & Disaster Relief
In 2011, FedEx continued its long-standing support for organizations focused on disaster relief, child pedestrian safety and environmental sustainability. The company’s aircraft and trucks helped transport more than 5.2 million pounds of disaster relief supplies and equipment for groups such as the American Red Cross and Direct Relief International throughout the year.
Supplies moved by the family of FedEx operating companies brought much-needed relief to victims of the tsunami recovery effort in Japan and an unprecedented 35 large-scale disasters in 24 states here in the U.S. During the month of May 2011, FedEx supported the American Red Cross by providing 30 truckloads of in-kind FedEx Express shipping. This included 4,871 individual shipments weighing 199,311 pounds, the company’s largest U.S. disaster response since Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to the extensive resources of the FedEx global transportation network, team members around the world gave of their time to volunteer with local, national and international organizations in 2011. The annual FedEx Cares Week volunteer program drew 3,400 participants who donated 64,000 hours in 72 cities worldwide. Separately, the annual Safe Kids Walk This Way events teaching child pedestrian safety rules drew millions of team member, student and community participants in 320 cities. Additionally, FedEx actively works with EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s Center for Sustainable Transport. The collaboration between FedEx and EMBARQ provides the potential for a better environment, less congestion, increased safety, and enhanced competitiveness in cities where we do business. Specifically, in 2011, FedEx announced a two-year, $1.4 million collaboration with EMBARQ to optimize city bus operations in Mexico, Brazil, and India.
More information about the accomplishments highlighted here and additional stories showcasing FedEx commitment to responsible corporate citizenship may be found in the online version of the FedEx 2011 Global Citizenship Update at csr.fedex.com.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $43 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.