Postal Companies Go Green Worldwide
To mark "Green Postal Day," postal companies organised within the International Post Corporation (IPC) have published details of their progress in climate protection.
As key players in the transport and logistics sectors, these companies have made significant capital expenditures to renew their fleets and deploy increasing numbers of vehicles with alternative drives.
Between 2012 and 2022, postal operators more than doubled the share of these more environmentally friendly vehicles, from 12% to 26%. At Deutsche Post, e-vehicles alone account for an even higher proportion of the German delivery fleet, at 41%. Furthermore, 38% of the electricity consumed by postal companies for their facilities in 2022 originated from renewable sources. In Germany, this figure was 97%.
Explains DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer: "Green Postal Day impressively demonstrates how responsibly an industry can cooperate worldwide to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Parcel services in particular are an essential engine of global trade, economic growth, and individual prosperity; however, they also have a major impact on the environment.
"That's why it remains our common goal to make our letter mail and parcel services, vehicle fleets, infrastructure and international air freight even more sustainable. However, the political and regulatory framework within which postal companies operate must also enable further investment in sustainability."
While e-mobility is becoming increasingly important on the last mile, the decarbonisation of long-distance traffic remains internationally challenging. Electric trucks are still available in limited numbers and are also very expensive. Furthermore, high-performance charging technology is still in the development and standardisation phase.
Hydrogen is developing only slowly into a viable fuel alternative. In response, postal companies worldwide are advocating the accelerated introduction of alternative fuel options and charging solutions to support the development of practical, low-emission transport alternatives in long-distance traffic. They are also relying on further innovations in sustainable fuel options for air freight.
Climate protection at Deutsche Post and DHL in Germany
In Germany, Deutsche Post and DHL have already deployed 13 e-trucks and 110 biogas trucks throughout the country on regional transport routes. By the end of 2023, there will be some 350 of these trucks.
In addition, the Group has more than 25,000 electric transport vans in service for the delivery of letter mail and parcels, making it the company with the largest fleet of alternative drive vehicles in road transport by far nationwide.
Within the context of their sustainability programme, Deutsche Post and DHL invested some EUR 700 million in electromobility and green infrastructure in 2022 alone—far more than the rest of the mail and parcel industry in Germany. The Group invested not just in its vehicle fleet but also in the renovation and new construction of carbon-free delivery bases with photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and building automation.
About Green Postal Day
Green Postal Day was established in 2019 by the CEOs of the postal companies participating in the IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS).
This joint campaign aims to highlight the environmental and business advantages achieved by the postal industry over the past ten years by cooperating as a sector to reduce CO2 emissions.
A total of 22 postal companies around the world are participants in this initiative, from Australia Post to DHL Group to the United States Postal Service. This year, Green Postal Day coincides with Global Zero Emissions Day.
For more on Green Postal Day, go to https://www.ipc.be/greenpostalday
Source: DHL
