2Sustain

Building on the success of the program it introduced in the US last fall, UPS has expanded carbon neutral shipping to 35 countries and territories across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

That means, starting this week, millions more UPS customers now have the option of paying a small fee to calculate and offset the carbon emissions associated with their shipments. (In the United States, the small fee ranges from $0.05 for a ground package and $0.20 for an air package to $0.75 for an international package. Outside the United States, UPS says the small flat fee will vary slightly by country depending on the type of service selected and the origin and destination of the shipment.)

UPS designed the process to be very user-friendly. All the customer has to do is check a box while completing the shipping forms online. Then, UPS calculates the carbon impact and purchases certified carbon offsets on the customer’s behalf. UPS will target offsets certified to the “Gold Standard,” “Voluntary Carbon Standard” or “Climate Action Reserve” and will match offset purchases up to $1 million.

“Our customers wanted a convenient, cost-effective means to address climate change in a real and tangible way,” says Bob Stoffel, the senior vice president responsible for UPS’s sustainability program.

I continue to be impressed with UPS’s sustainability initiatives and the company’s dedication as a responsible corporate citizen. By expanding its carbon neutral shipping program internationally, UPS is showing leadership and innovation, once again. Plus, as Bob Stoffel points out, this program is a great way to reach out to customers and link them to the company’s sustainability commitment.

More information about UPS’s carbon neutral program is available here.