The world’s postal operators have virtually achieved their target of cutting CO2 emissions by 20per cent eight years ahead of the 2020 target after speeding up their sustainability activities,
according to figures released today by the International Post Corporation (IPC).The postal sector reached a total CO2 emissions reduction of 19.4 per cent in 2012 comparedto the base year of 2008, only 0.6 per cent short of reaching the 2020 target of a 20 per centreduction, the IPC’s 2013 Postal Sector Sustainability Report showed.
Participants in IPC’s Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS) reduced theirCO2 emissions by 5 per cent, or 435,000 tonnes, in 2012 compared to the previous year. This meantthe total reduction since 2008 totalled 1,622,000 tonnes, IPC said.
Moreover, postal operator made good progress on their Carbon Management Proficiency (CMP)last year, improving from 70 per cent to 76 per cent. The IPC is targeting a 90 per cent score by2020.
Herbert-Michael Zapf, President and CEO of IPC, said: “Climate change is a truly global issueand the EMMS is an example of how an industry can come together and work towards the common goal ofreducing its impact on the environment. We are extremely proud of the results reported this year.The exceptional efforts of our participants have brought us within striking distance of our goal toreduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 2008 many years ahead of schedule.
“We should, however, not be complacent. Over the following years we will review our goals inlight of our recent progress and continue to work together with our stakeholders and provide themwith the necessary support in their own sustainability efforts,” he added.
As the first sector-wide sustainability programme in the services sector, the IPCEnvironmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS) is founded on collaboration withinparticipating posts to save CO2 emissions and make the right management decisions for a sustainableorganisation and motivate employees’ sustainable behaviour. Best practice and knowledge sharingbetween participants in the programme have also proven to be key to the success of the programme,the association pointed out.
The 2013 report shows that alternative-fuel vehicles account now for 17 per cent of the totalpostal fleet of the IPC EMMS participants, which includes over 516,000 vehicles. Since the start ofthe programme in 2009, the number of alternative vehicles has increased from 56,000 to 90,000. Thisis the result of pro-active policies by posts to replace their fleet vehicles by alternative-fuelvehicles, such as electric vehicles, which today represent 18 per cent of all alternative-fuelvehicles.
Combined, the original group has saved 324m litres of fuel as part of their efforts tocollectively reduce CO2 emissions since the start of the programme. Moreover, employee engagementhas been essential to achieve considerable reductions through for instance eco-driving. The fuelconsumption savings since 2008 represent a financial saving of €264m.
Another remarkable development is the trend of year-on-year improvements in the totalpercentage of green electricity (12 per cent) as a proportion of total electricity consumption byparticipants in the IPC sustainability programme.
The IPC figures follow those of the UPU which yesterday announced that Posts worldwidegenerated 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2012, according to its fourth carbon inventoryof member countries. This represented 0.2 per cent of global CO2 emissions and 0.9 per cent oftotal emissions from the transport sector.
The announcements came as world governments met in Warsaw at a UN ‘climate change’ conferenceto discuss their efforts to reduce global CO2 emissions.
