Logistics major UPS has coordinated more than 263 humanitarian relief shipments of food, health and emergency goods in 43 countries over the past year, according to its 13th annual Sustainability Report just released. The report highlights its growing investment in alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles and commitment to log 20 million hours of volunteer time by the end of 2020. The relief effort provided funding and logistics support to areas affected by the Ebola epidemic, the Syrian refugee crisis and severe weather in the Philippines and US. With its “Rolling Laboratory” approach, the company also accelerated its investment in an alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet of more than 5 000 vehicles last year, increasing the number of vehicles by 61% over 2013 and adding 1 100 natural gas vehicles. According to the report, UPS logged 154 million miles (247m kms) in 2014 toward its goal of driving 1 billion miles (1.6bn kms) with the fleet by the end of 2017 – an almost threefold increase from 2013. CAPTION One of 263 humanitarian relief shipments carried by UPS last year.
