FedEx truck driving on scenic mountain highway

Our approach to innovating operations

Our approach to innovating operations

Our approach to innovating operations

Working to deliver a more sustainable future

Our approach to sustainability focuses on three key ideas: reduce, replace, and revolutionize. We're focused on reducing emissions and waste, replacing older technologies and vehicles, and revolutionizing our fleets and facilities. This approach enables us to use our resources efficiently and responsibly.  

See how we’re progressing toward sustainability in each of these key areas:


Airplane (Takeoff) icon
Airplane (Takeoff) icon
Airplane (Takeoff) icon

In the skies: Modernizing and innovating our aircraft

With almost 700 planes, we use a lot of jet fuel. It accounts for about 61% of our emissions footprint.


Taking responsibility

Droplet icon
Droplet icon
Droplet icon

  • Reducing fuel through FedEx® Fuel Sense

Reducing fuel through FedEx® Fuel Sense


Airplane (Takeoff) icon
Airplane (Takeoff) icon
Airplane (Takeoff) icon

  • Replacing aircraft with more efficient planes

Replacing aircraft with more efficient planes


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Ideas icon
Ideas icon

  • Innovating with biofuels

Innovating with biofuels



Seeing results*

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  • Saved around 255 million gallons of fuel

Saved around 255 million gallons of fuel


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  • Avoided more than 2.38 million metric tons of CO2e emissions

Avoided more than 2.38 million metric tons of CO2e emissions


These results are the equivalent to one year of greenhouse gas emissions from 516,976 passenger vehicles.


Innovation in action

Delivery icon
Delivery icon
Delivery icon

On the ground: Upgrading and optimizing vehicles

Our ground transportation fleet includes more than 200,000 vehicles, and over 100,000 of them are company owned.


Taking responsibility

Reducing miles driven and fuel used through:

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Driving icon
Driving icon

  • Best-practice driving behaviors

Best-practice driving behaviors


delivery icon
delivery icon
delivery icon

  • Electric-vehicle adoption

Electric-vehicle adoption


Integration icon
Integration icon
Integration icon

  • Autonomous vehicles and robots

Autonomous vehicles and robots


Intermodal rail icon
Intermodal rail icon
Intermodal rail icon

  • Intermodal rail use

Intermodal rail use


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customer service icon
customer service icon

  • Mobile command centers

Mobile command centers


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map icon
map icon

  • Optimized routes

Optimized routes


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announcement icon
announcement icon

  • Advocating for clean technology

Advocating for clean technology



Seeing results*

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  • Saved 53.2 million gallons of fuel

Saved 53.2 million gallons of fuel


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  • Avoided 548,076 metric tons of CO2e emissions

Avoided 548,076 metric tons of CO2e emissions


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  • Deployed 4,091 electric and alt-fuel vehicles

Deployed 4,091 electric and alt-fuel vehicles


These results are the equivalent of a year of emissions from 119,196 passenger vehicles and a year of electricity emissions from 99,554 homes.


Innovation in action

Courier pushing specialized hand cart
Courier pushing specialized hand cart
Courier pushing specialized hand cart

Innovating to shrink our footprint

Cities across Europe are enacting new transportation rules and regulations to combat air pollution. Learn how we are responding with eco-friendly delivery options, like e-bikes and specialized hand carts.


Retail icon
Retail icon
Retail icon

In our facilities: Designing to conserve energy

With more than 5,000 air and ground hubs, local stations, freight service centers, and retail locations, we have to operate efficiently to reduce their environmental impacts.


Taking responsibility

Project management icon
Project management icon
Project management icon

  • Designing and constructing facilities for efficiency

Designing and constructing facilities for efficiency


Ideas icon
Ideas icon
Ideas icon

  • Upgrading lighting

Upgrading lighting


Renewable energy icon
Renewable energy icon
Renewable energy icon

  • Pursuing on-site renewable energy 

Pursuing on-site renewable energy 



Seeing results*

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  • On-site solar electricity generation:
    • 26 solar facilities generated more than 24.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy

On-site solar electricity generation:

  • 26 solar facilities generated more than 24.5 million kilowatt hours of clean energy

This result is the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 21,000+ acres of forest in one year.

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  • Lighting retrofits and energy management systems:
    • Saved more than 238 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2020
    • Avoided 193,462 metric tons of CO2e emissions

Lighting retrofits and energy management systems:

  • Saved more than 238 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2020
  • Avoided 193,462 metric tons of CO2e emissions

These results are the equivalent of avoiding the CO2e emissions from 35,000+ homes electricity use for one year.


Innovation in action

Image of thermostats
Image of thermostats
Image of thermostats

A new kind of climate control

See how FedEx Office saved 22 million kilowatt hours of energy in one year with an energy management system.


Image of solar panel at Florida FedEx Ground facility
Image of solar panel at Florida FedEx Ground facility
Image of solar panel at Florida FedEx Ground facility

Keeping our cool

Learn about the Florida FedEx Ground facility that uses the light and heat of the sun to keep temps down. 


Image of solar panels at FedEx Ground sit in Maui
Image of solar panels at FedEx Ground sit in Maui
Image of solar panels at FedEx Ground sit in Maui

Saying aloha to solar power

Discover how we’re powering one FedEx Ground site in Maui with solar panels and batteries.


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Email icon
Email icon

With our packaging: Using materials that are reusable, recyclable, and made from recycled content

We deliver more than 15 million packages each business day, on average. FedEx-branded packaging represents 72% of the material we purchase—the largest category by volume. 


Taking responsibility

Packaging (Version 1) icon
Packaging (Version 1) icon
Packaging (Version 1) icon

  • Minimizing materials used in our packaging

Minimizing materials used in our packaging


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Weight in LBS icon
Weight in LBS icon

  • Working with customers to optimize packaging size and weight

Working with customers to optimize packaging size and weight


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Recycle icon
Recycle icon

  • Maximizing recycling to conserve resources and reduce waste

Maximizing recycling to conserve resources and reduce waste



Seeing results*

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  • FedEx-branded cardboard packaging is 100% recyclable and composed of 45% recycled content.

FedEx-branded cardboard packaging is 100% recyclable and composed of 45% recycled content.



Hand opening FedEx pak
Hand opening FedEx pak
Hand opening FedEx pak

More paper and packaging facts

FedEx-branded packaging is:

  • 80% third-party certified, which promotes responsible forest management, protects against deforestation, and supports biodiversity.

We choose certified paper.

  • 99.8% of all paper purchased by FedEx Office during FY20 was third-party certified.

We actively recycle.

  • 69% of the solid waste generated in our operations was sent to recyclers.

Innovation in action

Pile of old uniforms being repurposed
Pile of old uniforms being repurposed
Pile of old uniforms being repurposed

From worn to warm

Read about team members in São Paulo, Brazil, who worked with a local business to repurpose old uniforms into blankets.


Couple in kitchen opening Liviri packaging box
Couple in kitchen opening Liviri packaging box
Couple in kitchen opening Liviri packaging box

Packaging that makes—and takes—an impact

See how this retailer worked with the FedEx Packaging Lab to develop innovative wine packaging that’s protective and sustainable.


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international icon
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Five regions with a single focus

Our concentration on sustainability doesn’t waver based on where we’re operating. Here’s a look at how we’re working around the globe to protect the planet.


Map with Canada highlighted
Map with Canada highlighted
Map with Canada highlighted

Canada

Making sure our drivers use “eco-driving” practices saves gas and reduces emissions, helping to protect the air we breathe. In Canada, our drivers are making a difference by accelerating slowly, easing off the gas before braking, and not idling. Read more about what we’re doing in Canada


Map with Latin America and Caribbean highlighted
Map with Latin America and Caribbean highlighted
Map with Latin America and Caribbean highlighted

Latin America and Caribbean

Traffic can be bad in big cities, and trucks contribute to poor air quality. We’re using electric and alternative-fuel vehicles in Brazil and Chile, and we're upgrading our trailers, trucks, and tractors in Brazil for more fuel efficiency and lower emissions. See more details about other initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean


Map with Europe highlighted
Map with Europe highlighted
Map with Europe highlighted

Europe

In Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Madrid, and Paris, we’re limiting our vehicles and emissions in busy city centers. Our newest approaches, like cargo bicycles, will help us improve congestion, limit impacts, and navigate narrow streets in up to 600 European cities. Find out about these and other environmental strategies in Europe


Map with Middle East, India, and Africa highlighted
Map with Middle East, India, and Africa highlighted
Map with Middle East, India, and Africa highlighted

Middle East, India, and Africa

We design facilities to keep energy, water, and materials use to a minimum. Our FedEx Express India headquarters in Mumbai is LEED Gold certified. We have ISO 14001 certifications in nine countries. And we even have an on-site solar energy facility in South Africa. See what else we’re doing in the Middle East, India, and Africa.  


Map with Asia Pacific highlighted
Map with Asia Pacific highlighted
Map with Asia Pacific highlighted

Asia Pacific

Our growing retail network in this area reduces impacts like emissions and traffic congestion. Plus, we’re using alternative fuels, deploying electric vehicles, and opening solar facilities to minimize environmental impacts throughout the more than 30 countries and territories in this region. Learn about other sustainability initiatives in the Asia Pacific region.  


*Source: 2021 Environmental, Social, Governance Report (Unless otherwise noted, data covers each of our operating companies and all geographies in our 2020 fiscal year, which ended May 31, 2020.)