Another One: FedEx Vows to Become Carbon Neutral by 2040

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky
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another one fedex vows to become carbon neutral by 2040

FedEx had kneeled before mankind, vowing to become a carbon-neutral business by 2040. That’s roughly eight years longer than it’ll probably take most of the population to forget that the promise was ever made. But this is the way of the world and we wager it won’t be long before it’s just easier to list the companies and governments that have not made informal, often empty commitments about the environment.

But, before we throw FedEx into the camp of blatant placation, let’s see what it actually has planned.

The parcel service’s plan involves six layers of action, starting with electrification. FedEx has promised its pickup and delivery fleet will be comprised exclusively of zero-emission EVs by 2040. This will allegedly be accomplished “through phased programs to replace existing” trucks. The company gave an example where 50 percent of Express delivery vehicle purchases would be electric by 2025, with all subsequent purchases being EV only by 2030 – though it did not say this would be exactly how things played out.

Everything else requires a bit more imagination, though a few might actually yield better environmental results than blowing a bunch of cash on EVs. One of our favorites is its plan to work with customers to bolster supply chain sustainability. Most of this is being done via carbon-neutral shipping options and new packaging solutions and seems like an easy enough (and immediate) way to help mitigate wastefulness.

FedEx also plans on investing in sustainable fuels for aircraft and trucks, deploying new forms of fleet monitoring (sky and ground-based) targeting fuel savings, and reconfiguring its facilities to use less energy. There’s even a plan to fund the Yale Center ($100 million) in researching Natural Carbon Capture methods.

“While we’ve made great strides in reducing our environmental impact, we have to do more. The long-term health of our industry is directly linked to the health of the planet, but this effort is about more than the bottom line – it’s the right thing to do,” Mitch Jackson, Chief Sustainability Officer, FedEx, stated. “At FedEx, we are committed to connecting people and possibilities resourcefully and responsibly. The steps we are taking today will contribute a positive impact for generations to come.”

The company has already committed itself to spend $2 billion toward its greener visions but we still think the publicity this kind of investment offers is probably worth more than whatever fruit it manages to yield. As a byproduct, it may also help keep FedEx from falling behind when and if widespread electrification becomes more feasible.

“We have a responsibility to take bold action in addressing climate challenges,” explained Frederick W. Smith, Chairman and CEO, FedEx Corp. “This goal builds on our longstanding commitment to sustainability throughout our operations, while at the same time investing in long-term, transformational solutions for FedEx and our entire industry.”

Be sure to check back in 20 years to see how that worked out.

[Image: FedEx]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

Consumer advocate tracking industry trends, regulation, and the bitter-sweet nature of modern automotive tech. Research focused and gut driven.

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  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on Mar 04, 2021

    Why EV van cannot cover 300 miles on one charge per day?

    • See 1 previous
    • RHD RHD on Mar 27, 2021

      Because if some anti-progressive posts it on the internet, it must be true.

  • Lou_BC Lou_BC on Mar 06, 2021

    I read somewhere that the cheapest solution to greenhouse gasses is to plant billions of trees. I kinda like the slogan, "More trees. Less Azzholes."

    • See 1 previous
    • RHD RHD on Mar 27, 2021

      Reforestation is one piece of the puzzle. Most of the CO2 is photosynthesized by algae in the oceans. CO2 has also been absorbed by seawater, which over the decades has become more acidic as a result. That acidity is rather harmful, to put it mildly, to shellfish, coral and other ocean life, and will take a very long time to be reversed.

  • Jeff_M It's either a three on the tree OR it's an automatic. It ain't both.
  • Lorenzo I'm all in favor of using software and automation to BUILD cars, but keep that junk off my instrument panel, especially the software enabled interactive junk. Just give me the knobs and switches so I can control the vehicle, with no interconnectivity of any kind.
  • MaintenanceCosts Modern cars detach people from their speed too much. The combination of tall ride height, super-effective sound insulation, massive power, and electronic aids makes people quite unaware of just how much kinetic energy is nominally under their control while they watch a movie on their phone with one hand and eat a Quarter Pounder with the other. I think that is the primary reason we are seeing an uptick in speed-related fatalities, especially among people NOT in cars.With that said, I don't think Americans have proven responsible enough to have unlimited speed in cars. Although I'd hate it, I still would support limiters that kick in at 10 over in the city and 20 over on the freeway, because I think they would save more than enough lives to be worth the pain.
  • Wjtinfwb Maybe Grandpa Joe should dust off the "Cash for Clunkers" paybook and use more of our tax money to help people who cannot afford a new car get into a new EV? One less efficient and useful Corolla, Impala or Ranger on the road replaced by an EV that can only go 200 miles before you hunt for a charging post that works and spend a few hours filling up. That'll teach those leaches who sponge off Government handouts to expect something for nothing.
  • 28-Cars-Later I wonder if Michael Hastings can shed any light on what happened here?
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