Material Resources

For more than a decade, FedEx has worked to minimize the environmental impact of our packaging wherever possible by using recycled content and maximizing recyclability. FedEx offers a legal-sized reusable envelope that uses dual tear strips to extend the usefulness of the product while cutting waste. Today, the majority of FedEx packaging is made from recycled materials and can be recycled. Among these packaging items:

Sound and safe transport of our customers’ goods is our primary goal, but we are always looking for ways to be efficient and environmentally sound with our packaging. Many of these new ideas emerge from the FedEx Packaging Lab, where a team of FedEx engineers are working with the latest packaging testing and design equipment to solve unique shipping challenges, including environmental ones. FedEx engineer Yongquan Zhou recently helped U.S. customers shipping from China find an alternative for a commonly used Chinese cushioning material -- expanded polystyrene foam (EPS). Not only does EPS have a negative impact on the environment, but it also was not protecting heavy, fragile products from damage. Yongquan designed an alternative honeycomb-style packaging that used corrugated pads and strengthened the package further with banding. The result was a triple bottom-line win – effective packaging that was better for the environment at the same cost. You can read more about Yongquan and the FedEx Packaging Lab in an article from Packaging Digest.

 

Responsible use of materials extends to all FedEx customers. FedEx encourages customers to use materials efficiently and recycle materials whenever possible. FedEx continues to minimize waste, reduce pollution and increase recycled content in our packaging, while maintaining the packaging integrity you’ve come to expect from FedEx.