Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), the world’s largest express transportation company, has celebrated a decade driving growth and sustainability in Africa.
Since entering the African market, FedEx has strategically expanded its footprint. The acquisitions of SupaSwift in 2014, and TNT in 2016, solidified FedEx’s position as one of Africa’s leading domestic and international transportation solutions providers.
FedEx has always been conscious of its social and environmental impact, aiming to deliver responsibly and resourcefully for communities worldwide. To mark ten years of operations, Taarek Hinedi, Vice-President of FedEx Middle East and Africa Operations speaks about the company’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, its evolving impact in Africa, and progress in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Q. Can you share some key FedEx sustainability goals for the coming years?
A. We are focused on optimizing our network to meet the evolving needs of customers and to, ultimately, build a more intelligent enterprise that can deliver a sustainable future and smarter supply chains for all. By investing in network efficiency and resilience, we work to reduce our environmental footprint, while growing responsibly and creating a simplified customer experience.
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Our enterprise-wide sustainability goal is to achieve carbon-neutral global operations by 2040, guided by strategic principles that also support the transition of the transportation and logistics industry. To decarbonize our operations, we have interim goals for electric pickup and delivery vehicle purchases and sustainable fuel procurement.
Q. How does FedEx balance business objectives with its commitment to environmental stewardship?
A. Our philosophy of practical sustainability drives us toward responsible business stewardship while innovative solutions improve efficiency. We match technology to operating environments, to ensure reliability and help us deliver the superior service our customers expect.
Business objectives and environmental stewardship aren’t always in competition: improving energy efficiency can reduce fuel and energy costs.
Q. What impact has the introduction of electric vehicles had so far in Africa?
A. Introducing electric vehicles is a promising recent initiative that commenced in June 2023, with the deployment of ten electric vehicles in South Africa. While it is still early to gauge the full extent of the initiative’s impact, swapping traditional internal combustion engine vehicles for zero-emissions electric models does contribute to cleaner air, and aligns with our global sustainability goals.
Initial trials assessed the MAXUS eDeliver 3 model’s performance on standard routes. It has a 240km range on a single charge, which has proven sufficient for typical delivery routes, ensuring our technology can cater to network demands and customer expectations.
Q. Please highlight some impactful charitable FedEx initiatives in Africa.
A. Under the FedEx Cares umbrella, we have partnered with various non-profit organizations to deliver resources that improve the lives of those we serve.
In FY24, through a collaboration with The Wana Johnson Development Project, we donated a new container classroom, which serves as a Montessori Center for children in Taweni in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
We also donated two boreholes to Kanana, an underserved town in South Africa’s Gauteng province, to alleviate the area’s water shortage and help residents access clean drinking water.
Q. How does FedEx support local businesses and entrepreneurs in Africa?
A. FedEx enables SMEs to reach their full potential by connecting them to a world of possibilities through the strength of our global network, tailored services, and digital solutions.
In South Africa’s thriving wine industry, for example, we sponsor the FedEx Next Generation Awards, which recognizes start-up wine producers. This is in line with our specialized export solutions, where we offer free packaging designed specifically for shipping wine internationally. This has broadened our customer network and allows high-speed transit times through the world’s largest cargo airline.
We also support our customers’ sustainability goals and help them make informed supply-chain decisions with digital solutions. Our direct-access emissions reporting tool, FedEx® Sustainability Insights, is available in 34 languages and provides emissions estimates at package and account level for eligible shipments.
Such offerings can benefit business partners as well as the planet at large.
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