An Post: The postal sector commits to sustainability at its core

 To coincide with the International Post Corporation’s Green Postal Day, today CEOs of 15 posts worldwide have reiterated the postal commitment to further reduce the carbon footprint of delivery, despite the increase in e-commerce.   

With the COVID-19 crisis, e-commerce has known an unprecedented surge with 52% of consumers having bought more online from domestic e-retailers and 49% of consumers agreeing that COVID-19 means that they will shop more online in future1.

Holger Winklbauer, CEO of IPC states: “Over the years, with the increase of e-commerce and now with the COVID-19 crisis, the postal sector has once again demonstrated its flexibility and adaptability to economic and societal challenges. Ten years of working collectively towards our joint targets has demonstrated that the postal sector takes an important position in the fight against climate change and is exemplary for other industries. With a reduction of over 30% of their CO2 emissions in 2019, posts have overachieved their initial targets for 2020 by 50%. This is why posts have now decided to broaden their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on which posts have the biggest impact.

Electric vehicles account for a 15% share of posts’ fleets3, an increase of 10% over the last three years. The share of alternative-fuel vehicles is one of the indicators monitored and reported by posts collectively for the past 10 years which they will continue to monitor through their new Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS).

In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9, posts have made considerable investment in developing low-carbon delivery solutions for the last-mile delivery of packets and parcels. Delivery in city-centres and urban centres is carried out on foot, by a traditional or e-bike, or through non-emissive and shared delivery systems.

For longer distance delivery, the vehicle fleet is progressively replaced by electrical or alternative fuel vans. Posts also have a long record of developing tailor-made electrical vehicles taking into account the needs of postal workers delivering e-commerce items.

Other SMMS results for 20194 published today, demonstrate determination of posts to pursue efforts to reduce their footprint and contribute to sustainable development:
• Posts participating in SMMS reduced their absolute carbon emissions by 31% since 2008
• Renewable electricity in buildings accounts for 31% of total electricity used
• 47% of waste is separated for re-use or recycling
About the Postal Sustainability programme

The postal sector is one of the only industry sectors to have its own collective sustainability measurement and reporting programme. Since 2008 postal operators have achieved a reduction of over 30% of their joint CO2 emissions, well ahead of the 20% reduction target by 2020. The Postal Sector Sustainability programme results are third-party audited by PwC and the collective results have been published each year since 2009.

David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, one of the 15 postal operators involved, said: “The postal sector commits to sustainability at its core. As an industry with a deep and long history through many generations, and with a presence in every community we know and feel the need to build a long-term, sustainable future for generations to come. Posts have led on the decarbonisation agenda and on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Today in the midst of a global pandemic we broaden our commitment so that the  sector can continue to lead for a sustainable world.”