DPD today unveiled what it claimed to be the industry’s first-ever comprehensive CO2-neutralshipping commitment at no extra cost to customers.
The launch by the GeoPost subsidiary is part of a wider CO2 commitment by Groupe La Poste alsoannounced today. The French postal operator said it will offset all mail and parcels sent globallyvia the service. This combined action of mail and parcels is a major step forward towards climateprotection.
From July DPD will apply Total Zero, its new carbon neutrality commitment, to all shipments.Total Zero will apply to business and consumer shipments to all destinations around the globe fromthe five major markets of France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and BeLux.
The carbon neutral commitment will be achieved through a triple mechanism: measuring emittedcarbon, reducing the carbon produced by DPD and subsequently carbon offsetting.
In launching Total Zero DPD is committing to keep reducing its environmental impact throughintroducing a range of emission reduction initiatives – called insetting – which will collectivelyhelp reduce CO2 emissions. DPD’s carbon footprint has been calculated regularly since 2006 and DPDhas been reducing its carbon footprint per parcel over time.
In parallel, DPD parent company GeoPost will offset non-avoidable CO2 emissions through apartnership with well-know French offset partner CDC Climat. Remaining carbon emissions ofapproximately 500,000 tonnes each year will be offset for 5 major markets. Carbon credits will beused to compensate for GHG emissions emitted by the business.
John Acton, Managing Director of DPD & Executive Vice-President of GeoPost S.A., said: “Total Zero was born out of DPD’s recognition of the need for the highly carbon intensive logisticsindustry to reduce its carbon footprint – and at the same time reduce its impact on the planet.”</p>
“DPD will continue to look at every aspect of its business with the goal being to significantlyreduce its own CO2 emissions per parcel year-on-year – which are nevertheless lower than ourcompetitors due to the use of our European road network rather than air transport,” Acton said. Headded that CDC Climat’s international reputation and long-term commitment to lowering CO2 emissionsmakes it the perfect offsetting partner for Total Zero.
Pierre Ducret, CEO, CDC Climat said: “Total Zero represents a genuine commitment to not onlyreduce carbon emissions in such an emission-heavy industry, but also to anticipate and enter thenew low carbon economy.”
“CDC Climat is working closely with the company to identify a range of carbon offsettingprojects that it will support via Total Zero – which could range from overseas projects in thedeveloping world through to more local schemes in Europe.”
He added the amount of carbon offset annually per parcel by will reduce year-on-year due to theimpact of the various insetting measures.
The company has implemented a measuring scheme for carbon emissions and have an on-goingprogramme in place to measure and reduce the CO2 they produce. This work is undertaken through aseries of ‘insetting’ measures – initiatives designed to help lower the organisation’s carbonfootprint through a group-wide responsibility strategy which includes a wide range of domestic andinternational projects.
Insetting initiatives currently helping to reduce DPD’s carbon output include:
* Eco-driving training for delivery drivers and the UK ‘Drive Smart’ campaign that raisesawareness of Eco-driving;
* Introducing the UK’s largest fleet of double deck trailers which can hold a third morevolume than a single deck vehicle;
* Reducing energy consumption by measures such as sensor activated lightning and powerawareness campaigns in UK.
* Compressed Natural Gas Vans in the Netherlands. DPD Netherlands is introducing newCompressed Natural Gas (CNG) vans to its fleet.
* Pedal power in Hamburg. DPD in Germany has introduced delivery bikes that can carry up to50 parcels to residential areas of the Hamburg.
* Zero emissions vans in Stuttgart and Hamburg. DPD in Germany has introduced Vito E-CELLMercedes Benz electric vans for parcel delivery.
* Motion detector light switches in Belgium. DPD Belgium has installed motion detector lightswitches to its Flémalle hub. This technology ensures lights are automatically activated throughoutthe hub – ensuring that lights are not left on needlessly overnight.
