Carbon-free parcel first for Parcelforce Worldwide

Parcelforce Worldwide is offering its customers a first in the UK express parcels market – the option to deliver their parcel carbon-free.

Customers booking online can now choose to donate 5p per parcel for UK and 10p per parcel for international deliveries when ordering via www.parcelforce.com.

Having calculated the average amount of carbon emitted for each parcel, Parcelforce Worldwide will match all donations and, through their association with The Woodland Trust, invest it in an approved programme to offset greenhouse gases generated during the journey of that parcel.

Managing Director Vanessa Leeson explained that giving customers the option to send their parcel carbon free was part of a wider approach to carbon management.

She said: “Our business uses renewable energy in our buildings, bio-diesel in our vehicle fleet and pro-actively seeks to increase energy efficiency where practical. While we’d never force carbon offset onto our customers, many of them are telling us that they will choose the commitment.”

Environmental management is a core part of an approach to corporate social responsibility for a business that handles nearly 50m parcels a year from 50 sites across the UK, using 4,000 vehicles. Parcelforce Worldwide works closely with Business in the Community to maximise its positive impact on society.

This new innovation has been supported by Business in the Community, which honoured Parcelforce Worldwide for winning its Healthy Workplaces Excellence Award in 2006.

Business in the Community Chief Executive Julia Cleverdon said: “Parcelforce Worldwide’s carbon-free parcel is just the kind of idea of which we need to see more. It demonstrates leadership in responsible business practice and sensitivity to the demands and concerns of its customers.”
Parcelforce Worldwide is also actively working with a number of account customers, with a view to them achieving carbon-neutral status for their despatches.

Issued by Royal Mail Group plc:
148 Old Street
LONDON
EC1V 9HQ
www.royalmail.com/group

Parcelforce Worldwide is the UK’s leading provider of time-guaranteed express deliveries. As well as providing delivery to all 27 million addresses UK, it has access to the world’s largest delivery network covering 99.6 per cent of the global population in 239 countries and territories worldwide.