FedEx meets emissions target seven years early

FedEx have surpassed their fuel efficiency goal seven years early, reducing emissions for their FedEx Express operations by 22 percent.

Following the success of the 2008 goal, FedEx Express has announced a new, ambitious target to reduce emissions by 30 percent fuel efficiency improvement in its global vehicle fleet by 2020. This follows an announcement in 2012 to increase the company’s fuel reductions target for global aircraft emissions, increasing the goal from 20 percent to 30 percent, by 2020.

 “Today’s announcements are major milestones, not only for FedEx Express and our sustainability efforts, but for the entire transportation industry,” said Mitch Jackson, staff vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corp. “We are encouraged by the technological improvements, in addition to the commitment demonstrated by FedEx team members around the world, that have allowed us to reduce our impact on the environment and the communities we serve while maintaining excellent customer service.”

FedEx Express attributes its success to employing the latest technology, optimising its vehicle operations by matching the right vehicle to each route. This initiative has yielded substantial economic and environmental returns as well as  FedEx Express expects to save approximately 20 million gallons of fuel this year through these efforts to increase vehicle fuel efficiency.

A detailed breakdown of FedEx’s reduction initiatives:

• By the end of its fiscal year 2013, FedEx Express will have increased the size of its advanced alternative-energy vehicle fleet to include a total of 360 hybrid-electric vehicles and 200 electric vehicles.
• FedEx Express has accelerated its efforts in fuel conservation through the purchase of vehicles with right-sized engines like the Sprinter vans manufactured by Mercedes-Benz, which are 70-100% more fuel efficient than the trucks it replaces.. FedEx currently has more than 10,000 such vehicles in service; more than 35 percent of its U.S. pick-up and delivery fleet.
• Since 2011, FedEx Express has incorporated almost 200 composite-body Reach vehicles into its global fleet; an additional 200 of these vehicles will be added to the fleet by the end of its fiscal year 2013.
• Approximately 35 percent of the FedEx Express diesel vehicle pickup and delivery fleet has already been converted to more efficient and cleaner emission models that comply with 2010 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency diesel emission standards.