FedEx Express Corporation has launched the 2025 FedEx University Students Environmental Entrepreneurship Challenge in China, partnering with the All-China Environment Federation (ACEF). The initiative aims to encourage university students to develop innovative and practical solutions for environmental protection, with a focus on integrating entrepreneurship and sustainability into youth talent development.
The challenge is open to undergraduate and graduate students at Chinese universities, as well as recent graduates within the past year. This year’s main theme is “Innovation in the Sustainable Express Packaging Supply Chain,” and includes four sub-tracks: Ecological Protection, Climate and Energy, Pollution Prevention and Control, and Comprehensive Issues. Projects will be evaluated on environmental impact, innovation, business sustainability, team capability, and social value. Winners will receive prizes and incubation support to help turn their ideas into commercial ventures.
“FedEx has long incorporated sustainability as an element of our corporate strategy and has a goal of achieving carbon-neutral operations globally by 2040,” said Poh-Yian Koh, president of FedEx China. “This challenge is not only a corporate social responsibility initiative, but also a strategic investment in China’s future talent. The program will engage universities in sustainable innovation and give students a platform to turn environmental ideas into practical solutions. Leveraging our experience in sustainable logistics, we will provide mentorship and resources to help teams develop scalable environmental solutions and advance the sustainable transformation of industry and society.”
Xie Yuhong, vice chairman and secretary general of the All-China Environment Federation, said, “This challenge adheres to the principles of public welfare, practical orientation, and empowerment for growth. It has no entry fees and evaluates projects based on sustainability, implementation potential, and team collaboration. Outstanding projects will receive comprehensive support, including promotion, expert guidance, policy incubation, and connections to investment and financing. We extend special thanks to FedEx for its strong support. Its employee volunteers will actively provide professional guidance to participating students, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. We also invite more enterprises, universities, and research institutions to join in building an environmentally innovative ecosystem. This ecosystem is characterized by government guidance, corporate support, university contributions, and youth involvement, thereby injecting greater momentum into sustainable development and the dual goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.”
The launch event in Beijing included a keynote speech from a representative of the Center for Environmental Education and Communications on educational policies and ecological civilization case studies. Interactive sessions invited students to brainstorm solutions for environmental challenges on campus and in daily life, with expert feedback provided on site.
Semi-finalist teams will receive mentorship through individual or small-group sessions to enhance their projects’ innovation and commercialization prospects. A roundtable discussion brought together representatives from government, academia, industry, and student groups to discuss trends in university student environmental entrepreneurship.
FedEx has previously implemented initiatives in China such as vehicle electrification and sustainable infrastructure projects. In June 2025, FedEx collaborated with ACEF on the “2025 Protecting One Kilometer of a River Course” project to support river ecosystem protection.
Registration for the FedEx University Students Environmental Entrepreneurship Challenge is open until November 30, 2025.
