UPS tractor being refueled with LNG
In February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Center for Corporate Climate Leadership recognized global logistics company UPS® with a Climate Leadership Award for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One of UPS’s top enterprise sustainability goals is to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation relative to its shipping volume.
UPS offers packages and freight transportation; facilitates international trade and deploys advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.
UPS operates one of the largest private alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S. “Today, we have about 2,400 natural gas vehicles in our fleet worldwide out of a total 5,088 vehicles – that’s about 47% of our fleet operating on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG),” Kristen Petrella, UPS Sustainability PR Manager, told NGV Global News.
The award bestowed upon UPS recognized ‘Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management—Goal Achievement’—for the following accomplishments:
- In 2011, UPS set a goal to reduce its carbon intensity from transportation 10 percent by 2016 (from a 2007 baseline). UPS surpassed this goal in 2012 and 2013, achieving a 12 percent and 13 percent reduction, respectively. This goal also helped drive a 774,000 metric tonne decrease in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2007 to 2013.
- UPS achieved its carbon intensity goal by executing its global greenhouse gas reduction strategy, which includes operating a single, optimized global network; employing intermodal shifting to provide customers with low-carbon transportation options; investing continuously in innovative solutions to minimize miles driven and flown; and working with drivers and pilots to ensure precision performance.
- UPS initially set a global goal in 2010 of a 5 percent carbon intensity reduction below 2007 levels by 2017 with the EPA’s former Climate Leaders program. UPS exceeded this goal with an 8 percent reduction in carbon intensity in 2011.
Successful execution of its global GHG reduction strategy enabled the company to reach its goal to achieve a 10 percent reduction in carbon intensity in 2016 – three years ahead of schedule. Now UPS has doubled its goal to a 20 percent reduction in its carbon intensity from transportation by the end of 2020.
“We are honored to be named a climate leadership award winner by the EPA and its NGO partners,” said Mitch Nichols, UPS senior vice president, transportation, engineering and labor relations. “This award reaffirms the measurable impact of UPS sustainability initiatives and recognizes our actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity in our operations.”
Three non-governmental organizations, the Association of Climate Change Officers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and The Climate Registry, co-sponsor the awards with the EPA.
(Source: EPA and UPS)
