UPS has added 35 countries and territories across Europe, Asia and the Americas to its carbon neutral shipping program. Under the program, millions of customers now have the option to pay a small fee to calculate and offset the carbon emissions associated with their shipments.
In the U.S., the 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 U.S., the small flat fee will vary slightly by country depending on the type of service selected and the origin and destination of the shipment.
To use this service, users only need to check a box during the shipping process. UPS will calculate the carbon impact and purchase high-quality certified carbon offsets on the customer's behalf. UPS targets offsets certified to the "Gold Standard," "Voluntary Carbon Standard" or "Climate Action Reserve."
In 2010, UPS will match offset purchases up to $1 million.
The new offerings, including a contract version for customers who want to offset the carbon impact of all their shipments, will be available starting July 12.
The 35 countries and territories added to the program include: Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, China and Macau.
UPS also is significantly expanding access to the program in the U.S. through UPS.com and UPS CampusShip. The shipping company says online retailers that have integrated UPS into their Websites also will be able to offer their customers access to UPS carbon neutral. The UPS Store locations and other retail locations will have access to the option soon.
UPS says it was the first small package carrier in the U.S. to unveil a carbon neutral program, which was launched last fall. As a part of the initial launch, UPS purchased offsets from the Garcia River Forest Climate Action Project, overseen by The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund. UPS plans to extend its offset purchases to other regions worldwide in the future.
UPS's proprietary calculation methodology and processes are verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS). The carbon offset process also is certified by The CarbonNeutral Company, and the calculator is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
