DP DHL takes “decisive step” towards emissions goal
Deutsche Post DHL has taken a “decisive step” towards achieving its goal to improve its CO2 efficiency by 30% by the year 2020. The company released its Corporate Responsibility Report 2010 today (23 May), announcing it has seen a marked improvement in its CO2 efficiency levels.
Its CO2 efficiency has improved by 12 points since 2007 on the basis of an initial value of 100. This figure is based on Deutsche Post DHL’s own group emissions, including the emissions caused by the company’s sub-contractors. However, focusing solely on the company’s own emissions, the improvement even accounts for 31%.
A year ahead the deadline Deutsche Post DHL confirmed it could reach its interim target- a CO2-Efficiency improvement of its own activities of 10% by 2012.
“A commitment to the environment and society is an integral component of our company strategy. We take our responsibility seriously and invest in sustainability – for instance, in education and initiatives for the environment,” said Rainer Wend, executive vice president corporate public policy and responsibility. “If you want to remain a viable global player for the future, you also have to be a part of the solution to society’s problems.”
Lower CO2 emissions in buildings and across the company’s fleet of vehicles were two of the main reasons behind the success. This includes the use of state-of-the-art aircraft for intercontinental flights and investments in new technologies.
These actions can be seen in the roughly 3,000 vehicles on the roads today that have hybrid or electric motors or that have received electronic or aerodynamic improvements. This includes for example the first 18-ton hybrid truck and the “green” fleet of 80 hybrid and electric vehicles for delivery in Manhattan/New York, a company statement said.
In the past year the number of GOGREEN shipments rose to more than 1.7bn worldwide – almost one billion more than in the previous year. Thus the company could offset around 82,000 tons of CO2 in external climate protection projects. GOGREEN products were further expanded to include the logistics divisions.
In terms of multimodal transport solutions, DHL Global Forwarding now “offers the most comprehensive package in the industry for intermodal transport of freight shipments”.
The combined-transport approach by air, street, rail and water enables customers to cut CO2 emissions by as much as 40%, Deutsche Post DHL claims.
To continue support of this positive trend, the company is planning to offer more environmentally-friendly services in the future and will transport all private customer parcels without additional charges for the sender in Germany with the GOGREEN service starting in July 2011.
In addition to its environmental activities, the Group has also made particularly positive progress in other areas of its sustainability strategy. As part of the GoHelp program DHL Disaster Response Teams provided assistance in disaster hit areas in Haiti, Chile, Guatemala and Pakistan last year.
Over 100 volunteers were deployed for 83 days and handled 7,000 tons of goods.
As part of its educational initiative GoTeach, the Group also extended its international partnerships, including with the nonprofit organisation Teach for All in the area of educational equality. Here, Deutsche Post DHL supports expanding local Teach For All organisations in Argentina, Chile, Peru, India and Germany as well as setting up new organisations in Spain and Brazil.
Last year, a partnership was established with SOS Children’s Villages, which provides career-entry support to young people, to begin four pilot projects in Brazil, South Africa, Madagascar and Vietnam.
Last year, Deutsche Post DHL was listed in various recognised international indices, including the Carbon Disclosure and Carbon Performance Leadership Index of the Carbon Disclosure Project. In addition, the Group is once again part of the FTSE4Good and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
The company was also recognised for its corporate health-promotion projects with the Corporate Health Award. The award is given each year by Handelsblatt, TÜV SÜD Life Service and EuPD Research under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the Initiative Neue Qualität der Arbeit (INQA) and highlights the significance of the broad health management at Deutsche Post DHL.
