As e-commerce continues to grow, it is important for companies like UPS, and UPSers themselves, to do everything they can to reduce the environmental impact.
The UPS Guangzhou East Centre in China is doing just that with eco-friendly packaging, customer education, electric vehicles and smart energy. Combined together, these incremental changes make a real difference.
Clever boxing
The commitment to eco-friendly packaging at the Guangzhou East Centre begins with reuse. Customers are encouraged to reuse packaging materials where possible, with new ones provided only if necessary. The centre also uses new packing tape 25% smaller than the type used previously.
To reduce waste during the shipping process, the centre parcels small export goods in RNC (reusable network container) bags before shipping them to UPS' Intra-Asia Hub in Shenzhen about 135 km away. Here, the same bags are emptied and refilled with parcels destined for Guangzhou. This reduces the overall need for packaging and contributes to a circular economy.
UPS also helps businesses offset the climate impact of shipping through UPS carbon neutral, a solution that gives companies the option to offset the greenhouse gas emissions of any shipment. These contributions are then reinvested in environmental conservation projects such as the Chol Charoen wastewater treatment plant in Thailand, which captures emissions released from wastewater to produce electricity.
Green fleets on streets
Going electric is part of UPS' efforts to transform transportation, given its fleet vehicles make the majority of the company’s near-25 million parcel and document deliveries every day. Recognising the need to change the way it operates, UPS has invested in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, including electric vehicles and natural gas-powered lorries.
The Guangzhou East Centre is getting on board with sustainable transport through its fleet of electric vehicles. These vehicles save thousands of kilograms worth of CO2 emissions every year.
And energy savings are not limited to just vehicles. The Guangzhou East Centre processes thousands of parcels each day, meaning bills for even simple things like electricity can add up. So the centre decided to use low-energy LED lights which has resulted in a drop in energy consumption of over 35% compared to the previous centre.
'Making these improvements takes time and careful planning, but the benefits are undeniable', said Ben Hu, manager for the centre. 'We have received a lot of positive feedback from our customers, and it is nice to know we are spreading a positive message.'