On the occasion of the International “Green Postal Day”, participating postal operators of the International Post Corporation (IPC) highlighted their progress in reducing CO2 emissions.
Collectively, they have already reduced their annual total emissions by 41 percent compared with the 2008 baseline year, bringing them significantly closer to their shared 2030 climate goal of a 50 percent reduction. Key drivers of this progress include the increased use of renewable energy in postal facilities and the gradual transition of delivery fleets to alternative powertrains.
One example of this progress is Deutsche Post AG. With 40,000 electric vehicles now operating in Germany alone, the company has reached another significant milestone in the electrification of delivery services. Through its Deutsche Post and DHL brands, the company operates the world’s largest electric delivery fleet of any postal operator within a single market. The vehicles are charged at 44,400 charging points using 95 percent renewable electricity.
Next to the electrification of delivery fleets, the decarbonization of long-haul transportation is becoming an increasingly important focus for the postal sector. In parcel and mail transportation, Deutsche Post already operates 50 electric trucks and 570 bio-CNG trucks.
Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group, said: “Climate change is a physical challenge, not a political one, and we must address it. Green Postal Day demonstrates that postal operators around the world are making measurable progress in climate protection. The successful electrification of delivery operations, particularly here in Germany, shows what is already achievable today. We must now continue driving decarbonization in long-haul transportation and air freight to meet our climate targets across the entire transportation value chain.”
Nikola Hagleitner, CEO of Post & Parcel Germany, added: “With 40,000 electric vehicles now in service for delivery operations, we are reinforcing our position as a pioneer in e-mobility. Electrifying our fleet is a clear commitment to lower-emission delivery services and an integral part of our long-term strategy. The growing demand from our customers for sustainable logistics solutions further encourages us on this path.”
E-commerce retailers worldwide view postal operators’ sustainability initiatives positively
The progress made by postal operators toward more sustainable logistics is also receiving positive feedback from online retailers. According to an IPC survey of 2,500 e-retailers across 19 countries, 70 percent are satisfied with the sustainability performance of postal operators. Survey participants included retailers from Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
To increase transparency regarding the emissions associated with online orders, 13 postal operators within the IPC network have introduced the Carbon Footprint Calculator. The tool enables emissions to be measured for individual shipments across the entire transportation chain, with data already collected for 95 million parcel shipments. The sector is responding to growing demand for reliable sustainability data while creating a foundation for more informed decision-making. As more postal operators join the initiative, the Carbon Footprint Calculator is expected to become the leading standard for carbon accounting of cross-border shipments.
About Green Postal Day
Green Postal Day was established in 2019 by the CEOs of postal operators participating in the IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS) program. The objective of the initiative is to highlight both the environmental and business benefits achieved through industry-wide collaboration over the past decade to reduce CO2 emissions. Postal operators from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania participate in the program.
(DHL)
