The delivery and logistics company avoided approximately 2.4 million metric tonnes of emissions in 2012 by shifting delivery volume from air to ground.

It also avoided almost 0.9 million metric tonnes of emissions by shifting volume from ground to rail.

The company reported that it had reduced fuel used in shipping by air transport, one of most carbon intensive parts of the business, by 1.3% in 2012, despite a 4.8% increase in shipping volume via its airline.

Last week, UPS released its annual 2012 Sustainability Report, which showed that ground and air fuel savings, increased investments in alternative fuel vehicles and retooled routes cut 12.1 million miles from ground deliveries compared to 2011.

This, in turn, avoided the use of 1.3 million gallons of fuel and 13,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. Over twelve years, from 2001 through 2012, the company has avoided driving 364 million miles.

UPS has also set a new fuel goal to reach 1 billion miles driven by alternative fuel/advanced technology fleet by 2017, more than double the previous 400 million mile goal.

To achieve this, UPS revealed plans to purchase nearly 1,000 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) long-haul trucks by the end of 2014, expanding its current fleet of 2,700 alternative fuel and technologically advanced vehicles.

Leigh Stringer

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