United Parcel Service, Inc. sustainability score: 24/100

UPS reports Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions under GHG Protocol with Deloitte reasonable assurance on 2024–2025 statements. Total emissions: 25.77 million metric tonnes (2025). Multi-year tracking with granular breakdown exists, but 2025 GRI lacks separate Scope 1/2/3 breakdown in primary sections.

Scope 3 emissions fully reported with GHG Protocol methodology and Deloitte assurance, covering ocean, air, rail, and ground transportation. Coyote divestiture and methodology changes caused 34% Scope 3 decrease, reducing year-on-year comparability. No active supplier emissions reduction programme found beyond customer-facing carbon tools.

Total emissions fell 8.1% (2022–2023) then 18.6% (2023–2024), driven partly by Coyote divestiture. However, 2025 emissions rose 3.6% to 25.77Mt due to new USPS air cargo contract. Interim target is intensity-based (50% CO₂e per package by 2035), but emissions per package have increased since baseline. No absolute reduction commitment.

27.4% of global facilities powered by renewable electricity in 2025 (surpassing 25% goal); target 100% by 2035. Procurement mix includes on-site solar, PPAs, and unbundled RECs lacking additionality. Ground operations: 30% alternative fuels (primarily renewable natural gas) in 2024. Jet fuel and diesel remain dominant.

Zero evidence of biodiversity assessment, TNFD disclosure, or deforestation policy. UPS operates massive global facility network and handles billions of packages with significant packaging supply chain. UPS Foundation planted 15.4 million trees since 2015, but this is philanthropic, not integrated nature strategy.

UPS committed to making all packaging recyclable by 2025 and reports work on sustainable packaging, reverse logistics for reuse, and material recovery. No quantified waste metrics, circular economy targets with verified data, or comprehensive material footprint disclosed. Handling billions of packages annually with vast cardboard and plastic consumption.

No water consumption data, water footprint analysis, or management strategy disclosed in publicly available sustainability reporting. GRI reports reviewed contain no water-related metrics. Direct water use in logistics is lower than manufacturing, but complete absence of disclosure from company of this scale is a gap.

Carbon neutrality by 2050; interim target: 50% CO₂e per package by 2035 (intensity-based). UPS explicitly declined SBTi, citing lack of scalable aircraft solutions. Emissions per package increased since baseline. Only one-third of 2024 capex supported sustainability. Continued natural gas vehicle investment risks emissions lock-in.

Annual GRI-aligned sustainability reports since 2003; Deloitte provides limited assurance on GRI and reasonable assurance on GHG emissions. Board Risk Committee oversees climate goals. CSO role exists and Climate Lobbying Report published. Notably: 2024 GRI confirms no monetary executive incentives linked to sustainability targets.

InfluenceMap: UPS advocated to delay Advanced Clean Trucks rule in Massachusetts. Board member of ALEC; member of US Chamber of Commerce—both actively obstruct climate legislation. Funded trade groups opposing climate bills. As You Sow (2026) shareholder resolution criticizes capital allocation misalignment. National Center for Public Policy Research flagged greenwashing liability for unfeasible voluntary commitments.