In its latest release, UPS has announced new sustainability goals to add more alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles to its fleet while increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources.
The goals, available in the company’s new 2016 Corporate Sustainability Report, support UPS’ commitment to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions from global ground operations 12% by 2025.
According to the release, UPS now has a goal that 25% of the electricity it consumes will come from renewable energy sources by 2025 – a dramatic increase from the 0.2% in 2016.
As for vehicles, by 2020, UPS plans that one in four new vehicles purchased annually will be an alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicle – up from 16% in 2016. The company also set a new goal that by 2025, 40% of all ground fuel will be from sources other than conventional gasoline and diesel – an increase from 19.6% in 2016.
UPS says these goals were developed using methodologies developed by organizations partnering on the Science Based Targets global initiative.
“Because of our size and scale, we know our commitments can shape markets, advance technologies and be a catalyst for infrastructure investments,” says David Abney, UPS chairman and CEO. “We rely on the ingenuity of our employees, suppliers and technology partners to help us reach goals that will transform the shipping industry and spur innovation.”
UPS operates more than 8,300 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles worldwide, with a fleet including electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane and lightweight fuel-saving composite body vehicles.
In addition to its use of alternative vehicles, UPS uses millions of gallons of lower-carbon-footprint renewable diesel and renewable natural gas in its fleet each year.
As reported, the UPS vision entails a future smart logistics network of advanced technology vehicles and facilities powered by more diverse and sustainable energy sources, including on-site solar, off-site wind, renewable natural gas, renewable hydrogen and renewable diesel delivered via advanced energy system infrastructure. UPS already deploys many of these technologies in its ground fleet and facilities and plans to significantly increase their use in its worldwide fleet.
Since 2009, UPS has invested more than $750 million in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and fueling stations globally. The company used more than 97 million gallons of alternative and lower-carbon fuels in its ground fleet in 2016. UPS uses its Rolling Laboratory approach to determine which alternative fuels and technologies work best in each situation.
