FedEx Express today officially launched its sustainability programme EarthSmart in Europe,Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa (EMEA). The launch comes just two days ahead of Earth
Day which will be celebrated in more than 175 countries around the globe.To celebrate Earth Day and FedEx team efforts, FedEx Express will be donating a tree in honourof each employee. The tree donation programme, organised in collaboration withPlant-for-the-Planet, will result in at least 16,000 trees being planted across the region. 16,000trees produce enough oxygen for 64,000 people, approximately the population of the city of Cannes,FedEx pointed out. The company is inviting employees to join its philanthropic efforts with the aimof collectively donating 20,000 trees to EMEA.
EarthSmart is the company’s roadmap for operating in an increasingly sustainable way andengaging team members, customers, business partners, and the circle of communities to help reducethe environmental impact of daily business operations. The programme, which was initially unveiledone year ago, bundles initiatives that offer tangible business and environmental benefits. Itcovers three areas including business solutions, workplace culture and community outreach.
The business-related EarthSmart Solutions sets a self-certifying, strict, quantifiable standardfor innovation and environmental sustainability applied to FedEx services and assets, includingplanes, trucks, services and facilities. The solutions go beyond accepted industry standards whiledemonstrating tangible benefits to the business.
In terms of the workplace culture, EarthSmart@Work includes programmes helping teammembers make significant contributions to the environmental sustainability of the company. As forthe community outreach, EarthSmart Outreach empowers FedEx and team members to contribute to thecommunity in environmentally-focused ways applying their unique skills and capabilities withorganisations that need them, such as assisting with sustainable transportation solutions in thedeveloping world.
FedEx has established transparent criteria that initiatives must meet to be designatedEarthSmart solutions or EarthSmart Outreach. All applications are examined by FedEx EarthSmartCommittees.
Projects eligible for EarthSmart Solutions designation must meet quantifiable criteria such asdelivering measurable business and environmental impact, being innovative and commitment-oriented(pilot or test projects do not qualify) and achieving tangible results above standard industrypractices. EarthSmart Outreach initiatives must demonstrate concrete benefits for the environment,mobilise the community and engage team members. Project focus areas comprise sustainabletransportation, sustainable cities or sustainable ecosystems initiatives.
Beth Galetti, Vice President, Planning & Engineering, EMEA, said: “EarthSmart is the nextgeneration of environmental sustainability at FedEx. The programme integrates environmentalsustainability throughout the company and leverages FedEx wealth of expertise to achieve concreteenvironmental goals. We’re tapping into on our well-known strengths – innovation, technology,global reach, a collaborative spirit and exceptionable team work – to reinforce our commitment tosustainability and better the planet.”
To date, the EarthSmart accomplishments include FedEx Electronic Trade Documents, theintroduction of Boeing 777F to its air fleet, the use of zero-emission electric vehicles in Londonand Paris, hybrid vehicles and LEED certified facilities, among others.
Outlining FedEx’ sustainability role in the transportation sector, Galetti said: “FedEx islooked upon as a trusted leader and reliable partner for change. We can proudly look back atour decade-long track accomplishments and be certain we’ve created a more sustainable future forour industry. In 2000, FedEx collaborated with the Environmental Defense Fund. Together, we helpedpioneer the development of commercial hybrid-electric vehicles for our use, as well as for use byother players in the commercial vehicle sector. More than 100 fleets, including those of acompetitor, have since purchased hybrid commercial vehicles. We are enthusiastic about whatthe future of EarthSmart can bring. And we are delighted to see that other EarthSmart initiatives,such as our strategic investments in Boeing 777F aircraft, have already motivated others in theindustry to follow suit. “
FedEx also supports environmental initiatives such as the Children Initiative “Plant-for-the-Planet” in Germany. The company not only donated $40,000 to Plant-for-the-Planet butalso committed itself to help organise events and plant trees.
Felix Finkbeiner, a teenager from Munich in southern Germany who founded Plant-for-the-Planet,said: “The goals of the Children Initiative are to plant one million trees in each country of theworld and empower one million children to act as Climate Justice Ambassadors by 2020.”Plant-for-the-Planet has already reached its goal in Germany. In May 2010, the millionth tree wasplanted on the Petersberg hill near Bonn.
“Plant-for-the-Planet started in 2007 when I prepared a school report. I was inspired by WangariMaathai, who had planted 30 million trees in Africa in 30 years. One year later, we held our firstpress conference which generated 500 media reports. Since then, more than 4 million trees have beenplanted and we can count over 100,000 children as members with over 3,000 of them serving asClimate Justice Ambassadors around the world,” the 14-year-old explained.
“When we children come together, we can really make a difference. One mosquito cannot doanything against a rhinoceros, but a thousand mosquitoes can make a rhinoceros change itsdirection. When the kids unite and plant trees all over the world, then we act as global citizensto change the world,” Finkbeiner added.
