UPS has introduced its carbon neutral programme in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

UPS customers in those locations now have the option of paying a small fee to calculate and offset the impact of the carbon emissions associated with their shipments.

UPS is the first small package carrier to unveil this product, building on its legacy of sustainable business practices and satisfying the demand for eco-friendly products. 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.

As 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. To encourage customers to participate in this programme, UPS will match offset purchases up to US$1 million in 2010.

The calculation to measure the carbon (CO2) impact of the customers’ shipments is based on current and historical operational data, including distance and transport mode and a comprehensive carbon inventory.

 Source: www.cargonewsasia.com