Swiss Post will make shipping of all mail within Switzerland completely climate-neutral from April2012 by offsetting all the CO2 emissions produced by the transportation of addressed domestic
letters.Swiss Post said it is continuously reducing its energy consumption relying on renewableenergy sources as part of its consistent climate protection strategy.
With the introduction of climate-neutral shipping of all its domestic letters from 1 Aprilonwards, Swiss Post will bear the costs for the “pro-clima” surcharges to offset around 50,000tonnes of CO2 annually. In addition to international “Gold Standard” projects, Swiss Post will beinvolved for the first time in a Swiss climate protection project.
Through this latest environmental initiative, Swiss Post complements the advantages of thephysical letter with further concrete environmental protection. While the letter represents aconvincing alternative to electronic media thanks to its greater effectiveness, the numerousclimate protection measures during the letter processing also speak in favour of the physicalcommunication, Swiss Post explained. “Through this latest investment, the position of a letter willbe further strengthened on the communication market.”
By 2013, Swiss Post aims to reduce its annual carbon emissions by 15,000 tonnes and tocomplete successive transition to electric vehicles employed for mail delivery by 2012. Since 2008,the Swiss postal operator has been consuming electricity to 100 per cent from water and wind powerand now plans to install photovoltaic panels on the roofs of more than 20 company buildings.
Since February 2009, customers can offset the CO2 emissions generated through their mailingsby paying a “pro clima” surcharge. Even after the complete compensation of CO2 emissions fromdomestic mail, customers will be able to use the pro clima shipping option for domestic parcels andsmall consignments, as well as for international mail on a voluntary basis. Thanks to thefavourable development on the market of emission certificates, Swiss Post will be offering a pricereduction for climate neutral shipping from April onwards.
