Natural Gas Tracking
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Explain how UPS alternative-fuel fleet is a response to trends taking place in the company’s general environment
The United Parcel Service has had several trends in its broad context, with the primary trend being, going green. The objective of this step is to help the United States department of energy achieve the National Clean Fleet Partnership initiative. This initiative aims at encouraging businesses to use a vehicle that uses alternative fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, and electricity. This is because these alternative uses release less toxic gases into the atmosphere and therefore are environment-friendly. They complement the mission of the United States department of energy.
The company has introduced a 20mph electric vehicle, hydraulic pump tucks. The company’s latest launch includes the use of liquid natural gas as fuel, especially on heavy trucks like the eighteen wheeled trucks. There are several advantages that this alternative fuel fleet gives to the company, hence enabling it to realize the trends are taking place in the company’s global environment.
The first merit that shows the response of the alternative fuel to the changing environment is that the alternative fuel does not limit drivability, fuel economy, and ability of the trucks. It reduces greenhouse gases that are released to the atmosphere. The alternative fuel trucks also have more extended mile durability, described at six hundred miles, single tank range. In comparison to conventional vehicles, alternative fuel fleet consumes about ninety-five percent fewer diesel and produces twenty-five percent fewer carbon emissions (Jiang et al., 2020). Alternative fuel fleet also uses less horsepower in hauling trailers on mountainous terrains compared to diesel trucks and therefore making it more powerful and economical as compared to the diesel ones.
Describe how UPS is using boundary-spanning roles to adapt to energy-related uncertainty in its environment
Boundary spanning roles involves the interaction with individuals and groups outside the company. The company aims at obtaining information from these individuals and groups that would help them in the innovation process. As for United Parcel Service, the company mainly works with the government departments and energy producers to aid in adapting to energy-related uncertainties in its environment.
The first partner of the organization is the United States Department of Energy, which launched the National Clean Fleet initiative. It, therefore, obtains information and support from this department as they work together to achieve a green policy. Through this partnership, the company managed to introduce the 20mph electric vehicle in 1930 (Daft, 2015). The company has also partnered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency in which it successfully developed a hydraulic pull truck. This truck stores energy through the hydraulic press and releases it during braking.
The companies also advertise their fleet products to businesses such as transportation managers who are seeking for efficiency and environmental impacts of their fleet. The company also works together with other organizations such as the Ryder Systems, AT & T and Waste Management Inc. The combination has widened the gap between the use of natural gas and the use of diesel, with the user of natural gas being more each year. It is complemented with the discovery of the massive shale gas fields, which have increased the volume of gas available, ensuring its sustainability.
How does UPS clean fleets initiative illustrate the concept of sustainability and corporate social responsibility?
Among the core of UPS, operations are sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The company acknowledges its trust in the reduction of the environmental impact of its services. The company has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by twelve percent across the globe by twenty-twenty five. The sustainability of the organization’s activities is under the directorate of the chief sustainability offer, a position which the company formed to keep UPS focused on the environmental impact of its services. These vehicles are reported to reduce carbon emissions by twenty-five percent. In 2019, the company managed to purchase one hundred and nineteen million gallons of alternative fuels, which formed about 22% of the total ground usage (Sustainability.ups.com, 2020). This sustainability is through the use of energy-efficient flues and the introduction of alternative fuel vehicles.
The corporate social responsibility is indicated in how the company considers people, the customers, and the communities in which they live and work. The company is mindful of the impacts of their operations on the environment and society. Therefore, the company works closely with the community and the government to regulate its activities. One of the things that the company is taking advantage of is the availability of natural gas in the United States, which makes it even cheaper since they do not need to import. Britt, who is the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, says that liquid gas is more affordable and a cleaner-burning fuel that is much better for the environment as compared to the conventional diesel.
In conclusion, the UPS Company has seen its success in green development due to various initiatives. This is mainly through its boundary spanning, which also enables it attaints is corporate social responsibility. The company is working closely with government agencies to ensure that it attains its goals for efficiency and sustainability.
References
Daft, R. L. (2015). The Environment of Management; Brown Goes Green: the US Embraces Natural Gas Trucking Fleet.
Jiang, M., Griffin, W. M., Hendrickson, C., Jaramillo, P., VanBriesen, J., & Venkatesh, A. (2017). Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Marcellus shale gas. Environmental Research Letters, 6(3), 034014.
Sustainability.ups.com.(2020). 2018 Corporate Sustainability Progress Report. [online] Available at: https://sustainability.ups.com/progress-report/goals-and-progress/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2020].