“With EarthSmart, we aim to elevate industry standards,” says Beth Galetti, the company’s vice president of planning and engineering for EMEA.

Like more and more snappily-titled environmental programmes, the ambitious EarthSmart aims to integrate sustainability throughout the company and leverage the company’s wealth of expertise to achieve concrete environmental goals.

“We have elevated and expanded the breadth of our commitment by providing vested stakeholders – be it employees, community partners or customers – with shared avenues to implement environmentally sustainable solutions and initiatives,” adds Galetti.

“We’re tapping into on our well-known strengths – innovation, technology, global reach, a collaborative spirit and exceptionable team work – to reinforce our commitment to sustainability and better the planet.”

So, what are these initiatives? Well, they cover the entire scope of FedEx’s impacts – from its services and assets, like trucks and facilities, to workplace culture and community outreach.

“We want to create a sea of change that extends beyond the company impacting the industry, our customers and the community.”

So far, EarthSmart has led to the creation of FedEx Electronic Trade Documents, the more efficient Boeing 777F to its fleet of aeroplanes, the use of zero-emission electric vehicles both in London and Paris and LEED-certified facilities around the world.

And this isn’t about clever marketing, ensures Galetti. “Our rigorous, transparent designation process cultivates dynamic and robust sustainability practices, programmes and services within the company – and EarthSmart designation doesn’t come easily.”

In fact, it can only be awarded EarthSmart status once a strict set of quantifiable criteria have been met. For example, to achieve EarthSmart Solutions designation, the product or service must demonstrate tangible benefits that exceed industry standards.

“Our strict adherence to high quality criteria has empowered us to deliver industry setting change,” she adds.

“We are enthusiastic about what the future of the initiative can bring. And we are delighted to see that other EarthSmart initiatives – such as our strategic investments in Boeing 777F aircraft – have already motivated others in the industry to follow suit.”

FedEx – The Facts

In the air:

Now operates a Boeing 777F aircraft, which use 18% less fuel than the MD11 freighters.

Currently operates 12 B777Fs, with plans to run a fleet of 44 by 2019.

On the road:

Currently operates 19 all-electric trucks and 330 commercial hybrid trucks. Fifteen electric delivery vehicles serve FedEx routes in London and five in Paris.

At the facilities:

More than 5MW of solar power in
operation.

At its Cologne hub, a solar power system can produce more than 800,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

A new distribution centre in Antwerp provides a reduction of energy consumption by more than 40% each year.

fedex.com

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