Posts “are part of the solution” to reducing CO2 emissions, CEOs claim on Green Postal Day
Postal operators are not only part of the global CO2 emissions problem but also “part of the solution” after cutting CO2 emissions by a third over the last decade, according to CEOs at the launch of today’s first-ever ‘Green Postal Day’.
The launch, coinciding with the International Zero Emissions Day and the EU Mobility Week, comes amid growing public pressure for politicians, businesses and others to combat climate change more urgently, including with demonstrations and protests scheduled worldwide throughout today.
The Green Postal Day, launched by more than a dozen leading postal operators in Europe and worldwide through the International Postal Corporation (IPC), is designed to highlight how the postal sector – which accounts for less than 1% of global emissions – has successfully collaborated over the last decade to reduce those emissions ahead of target and is now moving ahead with further measures.
Since 2009, members of the IPC’s Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS) and Postal Sector Sustainability programme have reduced their CO2 emissions by 30% and improved carbon management proficiency to 91%, according to IPC figures.
Holger Winklbauer, CEO of IPC, said: “To fulfil their mission, postal operators rely on huge fleets and building networks throughout their respective markets, thereby contributing to the sustainability problem. But they have also shown that they are part of the solution by successfully collaborating to reduce the environmental impact of their activities.”
He added: “These efforts should be more visible to and followed by other sectors. This is why postal operators have decided to make their voice heard on the same day throughout the world and set an example for many other sectors around different industries.”
CEOs highlight sustainability activities
Throughout the day, postal operators participating in the Green Postal Day campaign are sharing examples of concrete initiatives and measures they have taken to reduce their footprint, while CEOs are explaining in video messages why they decided to launch this campaign.
Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, said: "What's important to me is to point out not only what we at Deutsche Post DHL Group have achieved, but also to highlight the joint efforts of the postal sector as a whole in the area of climate protection. We share our innovations and ideas for reducing carbon emissions with each other and encourage each other to carry out planned initiatives to fruition. Our goal is to cooperate as a sector in making a crucial contribution to slowing down the pace of global warming and minimizing the long-term effects of climate change."
Philippe Wahl, CEO of France’s Groupe La Poste, commented: “We are a group engaged in the transformation of society. We have to contribute to the fight against climate warming and show an example.”
Georg Pölzl, CEO of Austrian Post, said: “Over the last ten years Austrian Post succeeded in reducing its CO2 emissions by close to 30%. Emissions we cannot avoid at present are compensated via national and international climate protection projects. Our company has the largest electric fleet in Austria featuring 1,600 e-vehicles and is also a trailblazer in green logistics. We will continue to implement our sustainability strategy. In addition to achieving a higher level of energy efficiency and the generation of clean energy by photovoltaics, delivery operations on the last mile will be CO2- free by the year 2030.”
Bpost CEO Koen Van Gerven added: “Working collectively as a sector has challenged and helped us to move further and to adopt even more ambitious targets at a national level. As one of Belgium’s leading companies, bpost wishes to play a pioneer role in environmental protection and has set itself the goal of reducing CO2 emissions from its activities by at least 20% by 2030. To succeed, bpost will replace 50% of its diesel fleet with electric alternatives by then.”
The postal sector’s achievements were welcomed by international figures.
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary said: “The postal sector has shown great leadership by adopting a common approach to reduce their carbon footprint. Not only have the posts achieved their targets well ahead of schedule, but now they are taking it a step further by aligning their objectives to UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are convinced that this is the right way to go and we urge other sectors to follow this example.”
Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and a former CEO of Dutch postal group TNT, added: “Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is beyond the reach of any single company. These Goals call for coordinated efforts and a collective approach from industry sectors. The postal sector has made a great first step by developing a collective structure and a common sustainability programme. We look forward to seeing that leadership of the postal sector again in the transition to a zero emissions world.”
Further information about Green Postal Day is available here: https://www.ipc.be/greenpostalday
