Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Jan 262012
Can "no pain, no gain" offer shared benefits, or is it a short-sighted approach to sustainability?
Comments (9) -
Dec 142011
India is one of the few remaining large countries of the world yet to experience the urbanisation of its population. In most regions – from the US, to Europe and Latin America – more than 75% of people live in urban areas. By contrast, only 31% of India’s people live in cities. This, however, is set to change dramatically in the coming decades. By one estimate an additional 250 million people – equivalent to 80% of current population of the United States – will call India’s cities home by 2030. The number of cities with more than 1 million people will increase from 42 today to 68.
For the cities themselves, this demographic transition means that the demands on already stressed urban transport systems will grow significantly. Other convergent trends suggest an even greater increase in urban travel demand than urbanisation alone would predict. Rising incomes mean that the number of leisure and recreational trips per capita will increase. Additionally, the increasing involvement of women in the formal workforce will further increase urban travel. -
Nov 152011
“How is FedEx a sustainability company?!?” puzzled one MBA student. The question surprised me a bit since I work here and regularly receive our sustainability updates.
I responded, “FedEx is absolutely, positively a sustainability company!” I began to enlighten the MBA student (and her accompanying friend) on the many investments that FedEx has made to foster a better world for its employees, customers and overall stakeholders in Disaster Relief, Child Pedestrian Safety, Education, Diversity and Environmental Sustainability. -
Oct 272011
The 2011 Net Impact Conference starts this week. A great many young professionals and students will convene to hear about and discuss sustainability. If you think about it, these are the individuals that will set the course for our society in the coming decades. So, what perspectives do I hope they take away from the conference? Several things really:
1. Be a leader, not a pinball leader.
2. Practice practical environmentalism
3. Make a Difference.
4. Collaborate with others.
Read more... -
Oct 262011
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Oct 032011“It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” - Henry David Thoreau
I have the privilege of speaking again at this year’s upcoming 2011 Net Impact Conference. In preparation for this, Net Impact, an international nonprofit organization that seeks to inspire and educate in creating a more sustainable world, interviewed me on some of the actions that FedEx is taking, why we’re doing so, and what the attendees should take away from it. The piece follows here: -
Aug 302011...I decided to take a more strategic approach and think outside the dumpster, so to speak. Out of this determination was born a plan for building our own independent recycling infrastructure. We created our own opportunities by reaching out to nontraditional players in this space. We found a company that was a good match for us, so we decided to execute. The challenge was to implement paper recycling and shredding at all FedEx Office locations in the U.S. and Canada, eventually reaching remote Alaska as the last frontier. Thanks to the teamwork and commitment of numerous departments within FedEx Office, the program was fully deployed in an astonishing three months.
Today, all FedEx Office locations in North America have the opportunity to recycle paper. In addition, customers have the additional benefit of knowing our paper waste is securely shredded before being recycled. This is all part of our FedEx Paper Recycling Program, which has earned our highest EarthSmart designation for meeting strict, quantifiable environmental standards... -
Aug 242011The wheels on the bus go round and round
…….. round and round
…….. round and round
The human awe, fascination and the need for the wheel are deeply reflected in the playful songs and rhymes about the wheel. Being that my youngest child is 4 years old, my memory on most childhood rhymes has been recently refreshed (at times to my annoyance).
As we travel in planes, trains, and automobiles, we also create the need for goods movement and logistics. Until Scotty figures out the most efficient way to beam Captain Kirk up, the wheel is going to be... -
Aug 152011
In Japan, the recent earthquake resulted in a short-term fuel shortage that hit us hard – literally fuel was not available at gas stations. Eco-Driving was an operational imperative, as it became even more important while we secured alternative sources of fuel.
Along with the other safety briefs about earthquake aftershocks, recovery efforts, and the nuclear crisis, FedEx Express added re-enforcement in our communications with couriers regarding Eco-Driving. Since they already knew the 5 tips well, they came through in a big way and were able to stretch the fuel we had.
For Japan, Eco-Driving was not just about a contribution to the environment – it was a necessity. How the couriers used the 5 tips when it counted helped us to be there for our customers who were depending on us more than ever for critical shipments. -
Aug 092011
...Studies show how people perform better in environments where they feel valued and appreciated. They want their contribution to be valued and their culture respected. However, how does a business like FedEx achieve the required integration of all these different cultures without ignoring the local people and their mentalities? How do you overcome misunderstandings rooting in cultural differences and tension that could keep a part of your organizations from performing?
When FedEx decided to go International in 1984, I was fortunate to get a job as data entry clerk at its Hamburg (Germany) Airport Office, earning funds to attend university. Immediately, I was fascinated by the task this great U.S. company now had to tackle...
