Itella last year cut its CO2 emissions by nearly 6% and is on track for an overall 30% reductionby 2020.
The Finnish postal operator has set itself a target to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by30% by the year 2020, compared to 2007 (in relation to net sales).
The company’s environmental programme showed promising results in 2011. CO2 emissions in Finlandwere reduced by 5.8%. Emissions per net sales went down by 2.3% and were reduced by a total of 11%compared to 2007.
This was achieved by means of several ecological endeavours. First of all, energy efficiency infacilities in Finland was improved. Electricity consumption was lowered by 6% and normalised heatenergy use by 11%, while the proportion of green electricity (produced by renewable resources)increased to 75%.
Fuel consumption of main vehicle categories was reduced as well: delivery vehicles consumed 3%less fuel that in the previous year. Itella switched to renewable biogas in its gas vehicles in2011, as biogas use results in both lower carbon dioxide and particle emissions compared to the useof conventional fuel.
In February 2011, Itella announced that it had become the first postal company in the world tooffer entirely carbon-neutral delivery services. According to the company, every letter,publication, direct advertisement and parcel delivered in Finland is carbon neutral, without anyextra charges for customers. This is achieved by compensating the remaining emissions by takingpart in climate projects, thus reducing for any occurring emission a corresponding amountelsewhere.
