Austrian Post claims it will provide CO2-neutral delivery for all shipments within Austria fromnow on, making it a “pioneer among the international logistics providers”.
It said all letters, parcels and direct mail would be delivered in a climate-neutral way,through emission reductions, efficient use of resources, and increasing use of alternative energy.Emissions that cannot be avoided will be offset by voluntary support of national and internationalclimate protection projects, the postal operator said.
Austrian Post CEO Georg Pölzl said: “In total, there will be no CO2 emissions generated anylonger through the delivery by Austrian Post – at no additional cost for our customers. We willthus become an absolute pioneer among the international logistics providers. While other companiesoffer individual climate-neutral services, we will deliver all shipments within Austria in aCO2-neutral way, without exception.
“We have heavily invested in research and development in recent years. Now comes the time toapply it to the roads,” he added.
The move follows an agreement by Austrian Post and 15 other European postal operators toreduce the CO2 emissions by 10% by 2012. Austrian Post currently uses around 15 million litres offuel and 180 million kWh of energy per year, and said it “constantly looked for opportunities toreduce its CO2 emissions and thus to minimise the ecological footprint as part of its environmentalcommitment”.
Pölzl said the new initiative was in response to customers’ demands for sustainable productsand services. For major customers, the postal operator will issue an individual “CO2-NeutralCertificate” as proof that thel delivery service was done in a CO2-neutral way.
Austrian Post generates a total of 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, of which 40,000 tonnes aregenerated from operating facilities and distribution centres, another 40,000 tonnes from its ownfleet, and 20,000 tonnes through partner companies.
With a total of 9,000 vehicles, Austrian Post operates the largest fleet in the country, andclaimed that it was constantly reducing its fuel consumption through optimised route planning,ongoing fleet modernisation, driver training, and through delivery on foot or by bicycle. Inaddition, Austrian Post increasingly uses alternative drive propulsion systems. At present, itdeploys 77 eco-friendly natural gas vehicles, 64 electric bikes, eight electric mopeds and twoelectric cars.
This year, Austrian Post plans to further expand its electric-vehicle fleet with 18multi-track electric vehicles (10 Renault Kangoo and eight Citroen Berlingo).
“Thereby, we are investing in e-mobility and fleet expansion according to the technicalavailability and suitability of vehicles for postal deliveries,” Pölzl stressed.
Regarding its operational facilities, Austrian Post said it was implementing “concretemeasures” to minimise CO2 emissions, for example through reducing the use of gas and oil-firedheating systems.
