UPS reported a decrease in CO2 emissions last year, based on its latest Sustainability Report, which also highlighted the progress the logistics company is making toward its goal to be 100% carbon neutral by 2050.

The company said it's been investing in alternative fuel for more than 20 years, and in the last year, added to its global fleet totalling more than 15,600 alternate fuel and advanced technology vehicles, including more than 1,000 electric and plugin hybrid electric vehicles — key to reaching the goal of 40% alternative fuel utilization in the company's ground operations by 2025.  

In 2022, UPS also purchased 162 million gallons of alternative fuels, including methane-reducing renewable natural gas, which in total represented 26.5% of our ground fuel usage, up from 25.9% in 2021.

Renewable energy in facilities by 2025

The company also partnered with both internal and external stakeholders, including our building engineers and utility partners, to develop a plan to power 25% of our facilities with renewable energy by 2025.

UPS said in 2022, 8% of its total electricity was generated from renewable sources for our owned and leased facilities. This included rooftop solar arrays installed on some of our buildings and procurement of renewable electricity to run our operations.

Through testing and learning, the logistics company noted that it is "well-positioned" to hit its 2025 goal and 2035 goal of 100% of our facilities being powered by renewable energy. 

"We continue to focus on transparency, accurate measurement and decarbonization of our entire global supply chain, which resulted in a year over year 6.9% decrease in scope 1, 2 and 3 C02e emissions," UPS said.

As part of its sustainability efforts, the company noted that it has planted 28 million trees since 2012 toward our goal of 50M trees by 2030 to help create a greener world.

Laura Lane, EVP & chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer, credited the progress to UPS employees worldwide.

"The progress reflected in our 21st Sustainability Report is made possible by more than 500,000 UPSers around the world who are delivering what matters for the environment. They are the sustainability-minded problem solvers and dedicated doers who do more than just deliver packages," Lane said.