FedEx, which is the world’s largest cargo airline, has announced an ambitious goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040. To help reach this goal, FedEx is designating more than $2 billion (£1.4 billion/€1.7billion) of initial investment in three key areas including vehicle electrification, sustainable energy and carbon sequestration.
FedEX will be turning over its parcel pickup and delivery (PUD) fleet to 100 percent electric vehicles (EVs) by 2040 using a phasing program. Its goals are for 50 percent of the fleet by 2025 and 100 percent of purchases by 2030 to be electric.
FedEx will also work with customers to offer end-to-end sustainability for their supply chains through carbon-neutral shipping offerings and sustainable packaging solutions. The company will continue to invest in alternative fuels to reduce aircraft and vehicle emissions.
The international delivery service will also build on its successful FedEx Fuel Sense initiatives designed to reduce fuel consumption in its aircraft. Since 2012, the FedEx Fuel Sense and Aircraft Modernisation programs have saved a combined 1.43 billion gallons of jet fuel and avoided over 13.5 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
FedEx will continue efforts to make its more than 5,000 facilities worldwide more sustainable through continued investments in efficient facilities, renewable energy and other energy management programs. Finally, FedEx funding will help to establish the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture to support applied research into natural carbon sequestration solutions.
Last-mile delivery vehicles are the perfect use-case for electrification and many delivery companies including Amazon, DPD and FedEx, are leading the way in making vehicle electrification a reality. This helps to address air pollution, which is contributing to climate change and worsening the public health burdens that workers and frontline communities disproportionately suffer from.
Frederick W. Smith, chairman and CEO of FedEx Corp, said: “We have a responsibility to take bold action in addressing climate challenges. This goal builds on our longstanding commitment to sustainability throughout our operations, while at the same time investing in long-term, transformational solutions for FedEx and our entire industry.”
Joe Britton, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, said: “FedEx’s announcement to fully electrify its fleet signals our economy is moving toward zero-emission transportation and ZETA applauds their leadership. This stands in stark contrast to Postmaster DeJoy’s decision last week to lock up the US Postal Service fleet into decades of oil reliance.
“Americans expect our institutions of government to lead, not cling to older, more polluting technologies. FedEx has made clear that vehicle electrification is the future and has highlighted the strategic disadvantage that DeJoy put the postal service in.”
