DPD launches CO2-neutral delivery in six major European markets

DPD has launched carbon-neutral delivery for all its domestic and international shipments in sixmajor European markets at no extra cost to customers, which it claims to be the industry’s

From this month onwards, DPD has officially started its carbon neutrality programme Total Zeroapplying to business and consumer shipments to all destinations around the globe from France,Germany, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland and BeLux. From 2013, other DPD businessunits across Europe will launch Total Zero as well in their respective markets.

“We are proud and excited to officially launch Total Zero in these six markets. DPD has beenpreparing for this moment for some time now and I am sure that our customers will be delighted toknow that we are now delivering carbon neutral parcels at no extra charge,” John Acton, ManagingDirector of DPD & Executive Vice-President of GeoPost S.A., said.

“Total Zero came about because, as a company, we wanted to take responsibility and reduce ourimpact on the planet. We believe that responsible delivery means being carbon neutral so we are notpassing on any extra costs to our customers and we hope that carbon neutral shipping at zero extracost will one day become the standard across the industry,” he added.

The launch of Total Zero announced in the beginning of this year is part of a wider CO2commitment by Groupe La Poste to offset all mail and parcels sent globally via the service. Thiscombined action of mail and parcels is a major step forward towards climate protection.

The carbon neutral commitment is achieved through a triple mechanism: measuring emitted carbon,reducing the carbon produced by DPD and subsequently carbon offsetting.

In addition, DPD offers its customers with immediate effect a free CO2-calculation reflectingall the CO2 emissions generated through parcel shipping by all means of transport. The calculationcan be made on the level of each individual shipment considering specific features such as thesize, weight and transportation route.

Initially, DPD’s parent company GeoPost aims to offset around 550,000 tonnes of non-avoidableCO2 emissions through a partnership with well-known French offset partner CDC Climat. Theoffsetting-projects include a reforestation programme in Colombia as well as introducingbiodigesters to rural farming communities in Cambodia, alongside European-based initiatives such asa transforming alfalfa-feed production in France.

All of the selected projects are accredited with globally recognised carbon standardcertifications such as Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) which measure project emission reductions;Gold Standard (GS) certificate, awarded by the Gold Standard Foundation to premium carbonmitigation projects, Joint Implementation – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC); and the CCB Standards by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance.

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.

“DPD has set itself a goal to pollute the environment as little as possible,” DPD CEO ArnoldSchroven said. We make CO2-neutrality a natural service criterion thus setting a new standard forthe whole industry.”