The U.S. Postal Service and UPS are about to demonstrate how business rivals can combine forces to improve their bottom lines while cutting out waste and pollution. The two have just embarked on a “unique partnership” called Blue and Brown Make Green, which is aimed at reducing the carbon footprints of both the world’s biggest government mail service and package delivery company.
This is no small experiment. If the two achieve significant gains, it could prove to be a best practices model that will have a ripple effect throughout the global transportation sector. So far, USPS and UPS have released only a few details, though, so it will also be interesting to see what develops as the initiative rolls out.
Blue and Brown Make Green will build on an existing network of greenhouse gas-reducing shared services network that the two entities have been developing. For the past several years, USPS has been providing its sophisticated ground delivery network to UPS to move the company’s packages along the “last mile” of their journey while cutting down on duplicate delivery trucks. The relationship also provides UPS customers with convenient access to package return at USPS locations, which could have the additional benefit of helping customers reduce their driving miles. For its part, UPS has been making its aircraft fleet available to USPS to piggyback on long distance deliveries. USPS and UPS will also be focusing on shared supply chain issues. Again, details are in short supply so far, but it appears that the partnership could enable USPS and UPS to maximize their use of alternative fuels in vehicles and aircraft.
Original article written by Tina Casey can be viewed at TriplePundit
