TNT Express expands its low-carbon fleet in UK and Ireland

Good news for environmentally conscious UK shippers: TNT Express announced last week that its new fleet of collection and delivery vehicles across the UK and Ireland is much greener and more efficient! If you  regularly book UK parcel deliveries, it's likely that your parcels may have already been delivered in one of TNT's new vehicles, which have been undergoing a fleet renewal programme since late July 2013.

Alistair Cochrane, MD of TNT UK & Ireland, with the new low-carbon fleet

TNT has been replacing old vehicles as they reach the end of their operating life. 300 new delivery vans have been ordered, with 200 vehicles having been delivered to date. The  new delivery vans benefit from a more aerodynamic body design and reduced fuel consumption while still being able to carry the same volume of parcels. The new boy design reduces drag, and with the overall weight of each vehicle has been reduced by 200kg by the introduction of plastic to the body construction. 

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50 FedEx volunteers take part in coastal clean up

Along with DHL's upcoming global volunteer day, FedEx Express is also demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility with "FedEx Cares Week".  The initiative comprises a week of volunteering between September 7th and 15th,  in which employees of the company in 11 Asia Pacific markets are encouraged to give back to their communities.

One of the first activities of the initiative saw 50 FedEx volunteers helping out at a coastal clean up project in Taiwan last Saturday 7th September. Along with with the Jane Goodall Institute - the international wildlife and conservation organisation - the volunteers removed over 120 kg of rubbish from the Chao-Jing park in Keelung. The park is home to many wild species but has been blighted of late by debris including cigarettes, cans and plastic bags. As well as improving the living conditions to the wildlife on the coastal region, it is also hoped that the clean up will raise awareness about coastal conservation. 

Managing Director of FedEx Express Taiwan Michael Chu commented: "the FedEx network includes not only wings in the sky, but also wheels on the ground and keels in the water. That's why why we are committed to minimizing our environmental footprint through various environmental sustainability efforts."

It is anticipated that over 1,000 volunteers will commit over 4,000 hours in 36 different activities throughout the week. 

UPS reduces greenhouse gas emissions

UPS published its 2012 Corporate Sustainability report on July 25th, announcing a reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions for the year, in spite of an overall increase in parcel volumes. The company pointed to its investments in alternative fuel vehicles, retooled routes and air fuel savings as reasons for this success. 

UPS Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle

Highlights from the year included: a 2.1% year-on-year reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions from operations and purchased energy, $2.6 million charitable donations and humanitarian relief efforts in 35 countries, and a Global Forestry Initiative which aims to have planted over 1 million trees by the end of the year.

As well as promoting details of UPS' recent performance UPS Chief Operating Officer David Abney reported that the company has also set a new alternative fuel goal: "By 2017, the company will reach one billion miles driven by alternative fuel/ advanced technology vehicles - more than double the previous 400 million goal," he said. 

The in-depth nature of the report is testimony to how corporate social responsibility has taken on a massive significance in recent years. UPS' main competitors, FedEx and DHL, similarly produce reports charting their environmental and social performance, so much so that many commentators assert that social responsibility indicators will  be treated as important as economic performance when assessing a company's viability. 

Addition of new winglets to 767 aircraft to save UPS 6m gallons of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by 62,000 metric tonnes per annum

Improvements to UPS flagship 767 aircraft are expected to reduce operating costs and improve sustainability, the American courier announced last week. All 54 of its 767 aircraft fleet, as well as five additional aircraft on order, will benefit from new winglets by the end of 2014.

UPS 767 Aircraft. Image c/o Dylan Ashe

The winglets are arrow-shaped surfaces to be attached to the tip of each wing, which reduce drag and lower noise emissions by enhancing take-off performance. UPS estimates a four per cent fuel savings on each 767 flight, amounting to 6m gallons of fuel a year and 62,000 less metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

David Abney, UPS chief operating officer, commented,  “We are constantly looking for ways to reduce emissions, and drive down operating costs so our customers have the solutions they need to compete in a global economy. These winglets are a perfect example of sustainability in action. They are good business and good stewardship."

Winglets are already installed on UPS's 747, and MD-11 fleets, and the A300-600 has a similar device called a wingtip fence.

Each winglet is 11 feet tall, will add approximately five and a half feet of span to each wing and around 1300 kilograms in weight. Even at the increased size and weight, the winglets will still reduce the amount of fuel used per flight, due to greatly improved aerodynamics

UPS aims to reduce its carbon intensity by an additional 20 percent by 2020, measured against a 2005 baseline. UPS Airlines President Mitch Nichols said, “We believe there is always some way you can improve, and we're applying that spirit to our environmental efforts. This is a great example of how we can use existing technology to save money, lessen our impact on the environment and serve our customers more efficiently."

Sustainability and corporate responsibility seem top priority for all of the major carriers. DHL recently published its 2012 corporate responsibility report, in which its comparable intention to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2020, based on a 2007 baseline, is reiterated.

Sources: UPS/DHL