Our approach to innovating operations

Our approach to innovating operations

Our approach to innovating operations

Working to deliver a more sustainable future

Our strategic approach to sustainability outlines how FedEx continues to reduce our own operational emissions while co-creating with purpose to collaboratively scale future solutions and support carbon reduction. This strategic approach, coupled with our Practical Sustainability philosophy, guides our actions to manage our environmental impacts across our operations--from the air to the ground.

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 over 700 planes, we use a lot of jet fuel. It accounts for about 65% of our emissions footprint.


Taking responsibility

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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

  • Advocating for greater availability of biofuels

Advocating for greater availability of biofuels



Seeing results*

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  • Avoided 147 million gallons of jet fuel through aircraft fuel conservation and fleet modernization efforts

Avoided 147 million gallons of jet fuel through aircraft fuel conservation and fleet modernization efforts


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  • Avoided more than 1.3 million metric tons of  CO2e through aircraft fleet modernization efforts alone

Avoided more than 1.3 million metric tons of  CO2e through aircraft fleet modernization efforts alone



Delivery icon
Delivery icon
Delivery icon

On the ground: Upgrading and optimizing vehicles

Our ground transportation fleet includes more than 210,000 vehicles across various vehicle classes, including pickup and delivery (PUD) vehicles, long-haul trucks, forklifts, airport ground service equipment and other off-road vehicles.


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


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delivery icon
delivery icon

  • Electric-vehicle adoption

Electric-vehicle adoption


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Integration icon
Integration icon

  • Charging infrastructure installation

Charging infrastructure installation


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Intermodal rail icon
Intermodal rail icon

  • Intermodal rail use

Intermodal rail use


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map icon
map icon

  • Optimizing routes

Optimizing routes



Seeing results*

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  • Avoided over 1 million metric tons of CO2e emissions

Avoided over 1 million metric tons of CO2e emissions


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  • Operating over 7,000 on- and off-road EVs

Operating over 7,000 on- and off-road EVs



Innovation in action


Moving toward an all-electric pickup and delivery fleet

As we work toward a sustainable future and carbon neutral operations by 2040, we're adding more electric vehicles and working to build the charging infrastructure to support them. See how we're innovating and investing.



Innovating to shrink our footprint

First- and last-mile delivery in dense urban environments can be a great match for technologies like e-cargo bikes or electric motorbikes. Learn how we're matching our routes with the right technology.


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Retail icon
Retail icon

At our facilities: Designing to conserve energy

With more than 5,000 air and ground hubs, local stations, freight service centers, and retail locations, efficiency improvements help reduce their environmental impacts.


Taking responsibility

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Project management icon
Project management icon

  • Designing and constructing facilities for efficiency

Designing and constructing facilities for efficiency


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Ideas icon
Ideas icon

  • Upgrading lighting

Upgrading lighting


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Renewable energy icon
Renewable energy icon

  • Procuring renewable energy 

Procuring renewable energy 



Seeing results*

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  • Renewable energy procurement
    • 34 on- and off-site solar installations generated enough renewable energy, avoiding 9,783 metric tons of CO2e emission

Renewable energy procurement

  • 34 on- and off-site solar installations generated enough renewable energy, avoiding 9,783 metric tons of CO2e emission

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  • Lighting retrofits and energy management systems:
    • Saved more than 232 million kilowatt hours of electricity in FY23
    • Avoided over 164,149 metric tons of CO2e emissions

Lighting retrofits and energy management systems:

  • Saved more than 232 million kilowatt hours of electricity in FY23
  • Avoided over 164,149 metric tons of CO2e emissions


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 than13.5 million packages each business day, on average.  


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

  • 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.

FedEx-branded cardboard packaging is 100% recyclable.



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

More paper and packaging facts

FedEx-branded packaging is:

  • 45% third-party certified, which promotes responsible forest management, protects against deforestation, and supports biodiversity.

We choose certified paper.

  • 99% of all paper purchased by FedEx Office during FY23 was third-party certified.

We actively recycle.

  • 60% 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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Customer solutions: Empowering businesses to take action

Whether you’re a small business owner or a global brand, FedEx® Sustainable Customer Solutions is for you.



Use FedEx® Sustainability Insights to track and help reduce your shipping emissions. You can track carbon emissions at a package or account level.



Find ways to integrate reusable FedEx® packaging into your supply chain. Offer more sustainable shipping solutions to your customers.



Get tips on planning a sustainability strategy, eco-marketing campaigns, and more.


*Source: 2023 Environmental, Social, Governance Report (Unless otherwise noted, data covers each of our operating companies and all geographies in our 2022 fiscal year, which ended May 31, 2022.)