FedEx Uses New Packaging

Patricia-Anne Tom

As part of an ongoing effort to increase its environmental presence, Federal Express Corp., Memphis, Tenn., has converted its envelopes to 100 percent recycled paperboard. The envelopes also will have an increased post-consumer recycled content of 35 percent.

Signing a license agreement with New York-based The 100 percent Recycled Paperboard Alliance (RPA-100%), FedEx also will be allowed to display a 100 percent recycled paperboard symbol on the envelopes. RPA-100% will help promote FedEx's efforts as part of the Alliance's campaign to help consumers close the loop on their recycling activities by buying recycled.

FedEx constantly looks for ways to be "environmentally friendly," while maintaining its quality of service and reliability, says Carol Brewer, marketing advisor for the company. "Customers are always asking us to keep the environment in the forefront, so we're always looking for ways to accomplish this."

Switching to 100 percent recycled paperboard envelopes will not cost FedEx extra money.

"This actually was part of a larger project to evaluate our product manufacturers all over the world," Brewer says. "In switching some of our suppliers, we invested some of those cost savings into this project. So this wasn't a large investment."

So far, customers seem pleased with the environmentally-friendly change.

"The envelopes were implemented in late fall, and we've heard nothing but positive feedback from customers that we've taken this step," Brewer says.

According to Brewer, the company will continue to look at products and key areas to further improve its packaging in the future.

FedEx currently produces in excess of 300 million envelopes per year.