Norway Post partners with green group to cut transport emissions

Norway Post has formed a partnership with the Oslo-based environmental group ZERO to help find ways to reduce its transport emissions. The partnership was launched last week as the Post made the purchase of 31 biogas-powered vehicles.

The work with ZERO – the Zero Emissions Resource Organisation – will support the action plan Norway Post launched this time last year, seeking to cut its carbon emissions by 30% by 2015.

The plan highlighted 10 areas where emission cuts could be achieved, including ideas like optimising delivery routes and switching to alternative fuels.

Johan Swärd, the HME director at Norway Post, said: “The transport sector is one of the most environmentally damaging industries, and emissions are increasing.

The new biogas-powered VW Caddy Ecofuel vehicles will be used in Stavinger, Stord, Fredrikstad, Oslo and Akershus

“So we in Norway Post have decided to implement our own measures. Having mapped the emissions from all parts of the business, we have a detailed plan for how we can cut more than 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide,” Swärd explained.

As well as responding to demand from customers for more environmentally sustainable delivery services, Norway Post’s plan has been contributing to Norway’s national Climate Settlement target to cut emissions by 30% by 2015.

The 31 new Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel vehicles will be deployed in Stavinger, Stord, Fredrikstad, Oslo and Akershus. Their purchase follows up the 20 all-electric Ford vehicles Norway Post purchased last March.

Einar Håndlykken, the environmentalist and president of industry and government-funded ZERO, said when a major player like a postal service made the switch to zero-emission transportation, it sent a “significant” signal to other transport operators as well as postal customers.

He said: “The Post Office is at the forefront of technological development with its electric vans, and this takes courage, drive and the capacity for innovative thinking. For us, it is therefore a privilege to work with Norway Post on zero emission solutions.”

Norway Post already transports around 80% of its mail by train where possible, and among its other actions to reduce its transport emissions has replaced mail delivery cars in the city of Trondheim with bicycles and trolleys.