UPS Sets "Green" Standards For Shipment Packaging

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) ATLANTA, GA - April 15, 2010 - UPS (NYSE:UPS) today became the first carrier to offer its customers an assessment of their shipment packaging based on environmental standards.  

Under the Eco Responsible Packaging Program, UPS will evaluate a customer’s packaging processes in three areas of sustainability: damage prevention, right-sizing and packaging materials. UPS will score the results and those customers who meet the requirements can display the program’s logo on their shipment packaging.
  Responsible packaging obviously begins with protecting the contents; damaged goods not only frustrate the recipient but often lead to the need to remanufacture and reship, doubling the carbon footprint. Shrinking the size of the box means less material used and fewer assets needed to transport the package. Finally, using packing and shipping materials with a more sustainable profile is important for the environment.   UPS’s rigorous assessment methodology and processes are verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS), an inspection, verification, testing and certification company. The service also has been praised by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), the latter a global business network and consultancy focused on sustainability.   “Our engineers have always directed our customers to use the right kind of packaging to protect their goods,” said Bob Stoffel, senior vice president, engineering, strategy, supply chain and sustainability. “This service gives our customers a new way to demonstrate that they are serious about sustainability when it comes to shipment packaging.”   The evaluation will assess the customer’s transport packaging systems and procedures, rather than product packaging found on retail shelves. The contractual-based service is available to customers who commit to sustainable packaging solutions. Pricing is determined on a project basis.   The program is conducted by the UPS Package Engineering Group, which is known for its expertise in transport packaging principles and also sought out the expertise of third-parties to ensure that its standards represent best practices.    “Embedding environmental evaluation in day-to-day packaging decisions is a critical step to improving the stewardship and conservation of valuable resources for the future,” said Anne Johnson, director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. “UPS brings an unprecedented scale to assessing the environmental impacts of transport packaging systems and their Eco-Responsible Packaging Program will raise awareness and continually inform more resource efficient and ultimately, recoverable transport packaging systems.”    Detailed information about the Eco Responsible Packaging Program is available at www.ups.com/ecoresponsible.   The service is the most recent UPS has introduced to share its best practices with customers to help them “green up” their supply chain.  Additionally, UPS has extensive programs for conservation, reducing fuel use and emissions in its air and ground transportation operations and using alternative fuel technologies. To learn more about UPS’s total environmental program, go to www.responsibility.ups.com.    UPS (NYSE: UPS) is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services. With more than a century of experience in transportation and logistics, UPS is a leading global trade expert equipped with a broad portfolio of solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.   UPS6059