PostEurop, the association of European Posts, is highlighting the environmental activities ofpostal operators in Europe at the current high-level United Nations Climate Change Conference and
Exhibition in Poznan, Poland, running December 1-12.The European postal industry has over recent years been integrating sustainability into allaspects of its service. Postal operators are committed to meeting their customers’ and otherstakeholders’ expectations of environmental performance and sustainable development. Europeanoperators are working together to address the climate change challenge and significantly reducetheir carbon footprint, the association pointed out in a statement.
In an important step to promote the different projects carried out by its members PostEuropwas invited to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference and Exhibition inPoznan, Poland. The association is presenting a number of sector initiatives, and in particular itis showcasing the two projects.
One is the ‘New Electric Postman Helper’, which is a personal electric mobility device. Thedevices – electric caddy, bicycle, 3-wheeler and eventually moped – are intended to facilitate thedelivery of mail in urban areas, whilst also contributing to the European sustainable developmentpolicy.
The second project is ‘GREEN POST’. The objective of this is to test an electric and hybridvehicle (the Free Duck Quadricycle) for the delivery of mail in the historical centres of Perugia(Italy), Bruges (Belgium), Rousse (Bulgaria) and Szentendre (Hungary).
57 quadricycles (produced by “Ducati Energia”) with electric and hybrid traction as analternative to the classic motorcycles are currently being used by postmen in Europe. Energy andenvironmental performance are being monitored in cooperation with the University of Perugia/CIRIAFin order to develop models aimed at the reduction of air and acoustic pollution in other urbanareas. The universities involved (University of Perugia and University of Rousse) will share theresults of the initiative which will be communicated at EU level during an event organised underthe umbrella of the European Commission – Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation(EACI).
A NEPH electric bike and a Free Duck quadricycle are on show in the “Technologies for ClimateProtection” exhibition accompanying the UN conference.
