Environmental achievements reportedly included ground and air fuel savings, increased investments in alternative fuel vehicles, and retooled routes that shaved 12.1 million miles from ground deliveries.

"UPS also set a new alternative fuel goal," said David Abney, UPS chief operating officer. "By 2017, the company will reach one billion miles driven by alternative fuel/advanced technology vehicles - more than double the previous 400-million-mile goal."

Highlights of the 2012 report include:

"¢ Reduction in the absolute amount of global greenhouse gas emissions from operations and purchased energy of 2.1 percent compared to 2011

"¢ Rapid expansion of UPS's dedicated global healthcare infrastructure to more than 6 million square feet (0.557 million m2)

"¢ A Global Forestry Initiative to plant more than 1 million trees by the end of 2013 

"¢ Humanitarian relief efforts in 35 countries, with related in-kind donations valued at $2.6m

"¢ Total charitable contributions and United Way donations of $97.5m, up from 2011 by $4m

"¢ 1.8 million volunteer hours donated by UPS employees, friends and families, a new record

Noteworthy in 2012 is that UPS Airlines, which represents 57 percent of UPS's carbon footprint, reduced its fuel use and carbon production. Air shipping volume rose 4.8 percent year over year, while fuel use dropped 1.3 percent.

One of the cornerstones of UPS's environmental strategy is to support the development and use of lower-emission alternative fuels. Vehicles represent approximately 35 percent of UPS's carbon footprint. UPS is accelerating its testing, purchase and deployment of new-generation vehicles. Between 2000 and the end of 2012, the alternative fuel/advanced technology fleet has logged 295 million miles with an ambitious new goal of 1 billion miles set for 2017. In 2012, this growing fleet drove 49 million miles, a 43-percent increase compared to 2011.

Earlier this year, UPS announced plans to add nearly 1,000 liquefied natural gas (LNG) tractors in the next two years, expanding its current fleet of 2,700 alternative fuel and technologically advanced vehicles. The fleet today includes all-electric, electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids, natural gas (LNG, compressed natural gas), propane, biomethane, and light-weight fuel-saving composite body vehicles.

The report also cites the greenhouse gas reductions, fuel savings and miles avoided through the innovative use of technology. For example, telematics data fed through vehicle sensors helped UPS cut more than 206 million minutes of engine idling time last year, saving more than 1.5 million gallons of fuel. Routing technology increased pickup and delivery stops per mile, saving 12.1 million miles of driving which equates to approximately 1.3 million gallons of fuel.

Details of UPS's GHG initiatives and all of our sustainability programs can be found in the report available by clicking here.

Source: UPS