ATLANTA — UPS, the world's largest package
delivery company, this week released its third annual Corporate Sustainability
Report. The report discussed the company's social, sustainability, and
environmental objectives. The company has a fleet of more than 88,000 trucks and
600 airplanes, so its environmental impact is substantial.
The report discusses, among other issues, increasing fuel efficiency and
lowering aircraft emissions.
"At UPS, we're never satisfied with the status quo," said Mike Eskew,
UPS's chairman and CEO. "And with today's increasingly interdependent
world, sustainable business practices add up to smart business practices."
UPS says it was the first company in its industry to issue a sustainability
report and to publicize its goals for business practices that enhance
communities and protect the environment.
The first Corporate Sustainability Report called "Operating in Unison"
was issued in 2003 using data based on year-end 2002 information. The goals
outlined in that initial document were set for 2007, UPS's 100th anniversary.
UPS is providing online annual updates until 2007, at which point a centennial
sustainability report will be issued. The 2004 Corporate Sustainability Report
includes economic, social and environmental data. Concerning the environment,
the report said:
--UPS continued to enhance its ground fleet with its "rolling
laboratory" philosophy, deploying alternative-fuel vehicles to learn how
new technologies can be adapted for use in the real world. Hydrogen fuel cell
Sprinters and an electric vehicle were added to the fleet.
--The roll-out of Package Flow Technology into the U.S. package operation
continued to reduce miles traveled, fuel consumption and fuel emissions through
improved route planning, vehicle loading and package delivery.
--UPS Airlines, the world's ninth largest airline, has begun a broad examination
of additional steps that could reduce its fuel consumption.
--Renewable solar energy provides 70 percent of the power source for the UPS
Palm Springs, Calif. facility. The 100-kilowatt solar panel array exceeded
expectations in 2004 by producing 4.9 percent more power than anticipated. Some
405,000 pounds of CO2 emissions have been saved since implementation in July
2003.
UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and also provides supply
chain services. The company serves more than 200 countries and territories
worldwide; its stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"UPS." The company employs more than 380,000 people and had revenue in
2004 of more than $36 billion. The full text of the report can be found at www.sustainability.ups.com
.