Green news in brief: Swiss Post, bpost, UPS and TNT Express
Rounding up some of the latest environmental news from around the mail and express industry, including “green” achievements from UPS, TNT Express, bpost and Swiss Post.
Swiss Post buys electricity from domestic renewable sources
Swiss Post has said it now obtains all its electricity from renewable energy sources in Switzerland.
Much of the power comes from hydroelectric energy, which provides around half of the Alpine country’s electricity supplies. But Swiss Post said it is also buying “nature made star” electricity, which is generated by wind projects in the canton of Jura, along with solar power and biomass energy from small Swiss companies via the Green Energy Marketplace auction platform.
Swiss Post said it had been buying 100% renewable electricity since 2008, but now all this green power comes from facilities within Switzerland. The move fits with the Swiss government’s ambition to transition to a largely clean, independent domestic supply of energy.
bpost cuts carbon emissions by 35%
Belgium’s bpost has said it reduced its carbon emissions by 35% in the last five years.
The company is aiming at a target to cut its climate change impact by 45% by 2020, and said it now ranks second in the International Postal Corporation’s group of postal operators monitoring and reducing their environmental impacts.
Bpost, which says it uses only green electricity, has been installing solar panels to help reduce its carbon emissions, and is now using 2,500 electric bicycles. The company has jus released its first stamps that come with a Forest Stewardship Council certificate of sustainability.
UPS takes top spot in carbon disclosure league
UPS has said it has received the hughes score for the second consecutive year in a “Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index” of major listed companies run by international not-for-profit Carbon Disclosure Project.
The UK-based CDP, which works with some of the biggest companies in the world, gave UPS a score of 99 out of 100 in its climate change disclosure, data management and understanding of climate change related issues.
Scott Wicker, UPS’s chief sustainability officer, said: “Being recognized by one of the world’s most respected organizations evaluating environmental performance is an affirmation that our programmes are on the right path to creating a better environment for our employees, our customers and our communities.”
TNT Express launches recycling initiative in Lebanon
TNT Express has launched a new waste management programme in Lebanon that aims to create staff awareness about recycling.
The company said employees were being urged to recycle waste paper and cartons in special containers throughout TNT offices and operation hubs, with waste being sent to specialised recycling centres each week. A second phase of the programme will add facilities for the recycling of aluminium and plastic waste.
Tim Frank, general manager for TNT Associates in the Middle East and Indian sub-continent, said: “We are adopting the 3Rs concept: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Respecting our environment is the key to a sustainable growth.”
DPD introduces urban bike service in Slovenia
DPD Slovenia has introduced a new packet delivery service in downtown Ljubljana using zero-carbon bicycles for final delivery.
The move is part of the company’s Europe-wide “Total Zero” initiative, which promises to reduce the carbon emissions from parcel deliveries and offset remaining environmental impacts. DPD said using bikes also means it can get round the restrictions on vehicles in the centre of the Slovenian capital.
DPD Slovenia executive director Andrej Cergolj said: “Optimizing business by finding ways to send parcels without generating harmful emissions is our primary concern, so we are very proud to be the first in Slovenia to launch such an innovation. We will be working to ensure that these bicycles will also be in other Slovenian cities in the future.”
