Paris, France, 20 April 2011 - FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), today officially launched its sustainability program EarthSmart ® in Europe, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (EMEA). The launch comes just two days ahead of Earth Day celebrated in more than 175 countries around the globe.
“EarthSmart represents the next evolution of environmental sustainability at FedEx”, said Beth Galetti, vice president, Planning and Engineering, FedEx Express EMEA. “Our track record demonstrates a winning combination of innovation, leadership, and collaboration in implementing initiatives with tangible business and environmental benefits. With EarthSmart, we’ve expanded and deepened the breadth of our commitment by creating formal avenues to engage our team members, customers, and community stakeholders in achieving shared environmental goals.”
EarthSmart is our commitment to minimize our impact on the environment. It’s designed to encourage innovation that makes our business – the way we work and services we offer—more sustainable, both economically and environmentally. Specifically, EarthSmart covers three areas: business, culture and community.
EarthSmart achievements include:
FedEx Boeing 777F Fleet: The introduction of new Boeing 777s enables more freight to be delivered further offering 18 percent less emissions and 18 percent fuel reductions in comparison to MD-11.
FedEx all-electric delivery vehicles: These zero emission vehicles operate in London and Paris allowing couriers to make a full eight-hour shift of deliveries before their vehicles need recharging.
FedEx Electronic Trade Documents (ETD): An automated shipping tool which reduces the need to print and sign multiple copies of trade documents, saves customers time and money and helps them reduce their environmental footprint.
EarthSmart was developed in collaboration with Esty Environmental Partners, a leading sustainability consultancy.
“We cannot underestimate the contribution of our people. We know change starts here”, added Julien Ducoup, managing director, Operations, FedEx Express in France. “We are heavily indebted to our employees who have undertaken the commitment of environmental stewardship with unwavering resolve, dedication and enthusiasm.”
To celebrate FedEx team efforts, FedEx Express will be donating a tree in honor of each employee. The tree donation program, organized in collaboration with Plant-for-the-Planet, will result in at least 16,000 trees being planted across the region. The company is inviting employees to join its philanthropic efforts with the aim of collectively donating 20,000 trees to EMEA. Plant-for-the-Planet is a grassroots children’s organization operating in 99 countries with the goal of empowering children to shape their future by raising youth awareness of sustainability issues and by planting one million trees in each country worldwide.
About FedEx Sustainability
FedEx is committed to connecting the world responsibly and resourcefully. We have set long-term goals to reduce aircraft emissions 20 percent by 2020, increase FedEx Express vehicle efficiency by 20 percent by 2020, and expand on-site renewable energy generation and procurement of renewable energy credits. FedEx works to achieve these ambitious goals through EarthSmart— a FedEx commitment to minimize our impact on the environment. EarthSmart is designed to encourage innovation that makes our business — the way we work and the services we offer — more sustainable, both economically and environmentally. FedEx commitment has been recognized through inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index – a global list of the world’s largest, most sustainability organizations – and a ranking of #105 in Newsweek’s Top 500 Greenest Companies (published October 2010). Also, over the past year, FedEx has been placed in Boston College’s Reputation Institute 2010 CSR Index Top 50 Ranking and retained the U.S. EPA Green Power Partnership Printer’s List #1 Ranking.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $38 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 team members to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit newsroom.fedex.com/newsroom.