FedEx Corp. announced Wednesday, Nov. 12, that by 2020 it plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its FedEx Express aircraft fleet by 20 percent and improve the fuel efficiency of its FedEx Express vehicle fleet by 20 percent. The goals were outlined in the FedEx 2008 Global Citizenship Report, also released Wednesday.
FedEx says that since 2005, it has reduced aircraft carbon dioxide emissions by 3.7 percent per available ton mile and improved FedEx Express vehicle fuel efficiency by 13.7 percent, reducing vehicle carbon emissions by almost one billion pounds.
“FedEx recognizes that one of the most responsible steps we and the industrial sector can take for our businesses, society and the environment is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” says Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Corp. “Our role is to connect the world in responsible and resourceful ways. The world faces big challenges, and we believe that collective, sustained efforts can create greater possibilities for people, businesses and nations worldwide.”
FedEx says it continues to make significant progress toward achieving its fuel efficiency goals by investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft, vehicles and facilities:
FedEx operates the largest fleet of commercial hybrid-electric trucks in North America and the transportation industry, with more than 170 vehicles. The fleet recently celebrated a major milestone: more than two million miles of revenue service;
FedEx E700 hybrid-electric trucks, the most common hybrid in the FedEx fleet, improve fuel economy by 42 percent, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 25 percent and cut particulate pollution by 96 percent compared with conventional vehicles. Other companies have referenced FedEx’s more than two million miles of revenue service milestone to justify testing and purchasing hybrid electric technology;
FedEx Express has worked to optimize its delivery routes to ensure that the most efficiently-sized vehicle is used on each route. As a result of these efforts, more than one-fourth of the FedEx Express fleet has been converted to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, saving more than 45 million gallons of fuel in the past three years;
FedEx has begun upgrading its aircraft fleet by replacing narrow-body Boeing 727 aircraft with Boeing 757 planes that lessen the environmental impact — reducing fuel consumption up to 36 percent while providing 20 percent more payload capacity.
The company also will acquire Boeing 777 aircraft that provide greater payload capacity and use 18 percent less fuel on average than the MD-11 aircraft currently in operation. These aircraft replacements also will reduce carbon emissions significantly;
FedEx Express employees are increasing jet fuel efficiency and reducing jet fuel emissions during operations, with more than 30 initiatives that range from improvements in flight planning to aircraft operation efficiencies;
FedEx also is reducing the amount of fuel used when a plane is at the gate by using ground power instead of aircraft power, saving almost one million gallons of fuel per month;
FedEx Express and FedEx Freight operate three solar-powered facilities in California — in Oakland, Whittier and Fontana — eliminating almost three million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. FedEx Express recently broke ground for its largest solar-powered hub to date: The Cologne, Germany hub installation, which is expected to be completed in 2010, will include a 1.4-megawatt (MW) solar power system and is expected to generate about 1.3 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of 370 households.
These efficiency and emissions reduction goals and results were only one component of the FedEx 2008 Global Citizenship Report, which outlines the FedEx commitment to its team members, customers, shareowners and the communities it serves. In concert with the release of the report, FedEx launched The FedEx Citizenship Blog at www.blog.fedex.com. The blog will help give a transparent view behind the scenes at FedEx, featuring FedEx executives and team members describing how they carry out FedEx’s 35-year pledge to be a good corporate citizen and allow stakeholders to engage in a dialogue with FedEx on these important issues.
The report and blog highlight fiscal year 2008 milestones and fiscal year 2009 objectives in five key areas: economics and access, environment and efficiency, community and disaster relief, people and workplace, and governance.
