Postal operators cut CO₂ emissions 41% since 2008
A 41% reduction in CO₂ emissions since 2008 puts the postal sector closer to its 2030 climate target, with renewable energy and fleet electrification driving progress.
Postal operators participating in the International Post Corporation (IPC) have cut their combined annual CO₂ emissions by 41% from the 2008 baseline, moving closer to their shared target of a 50% reduction by 2030.
The progress was highlighted on International Green Postal Day, with increased use of renewable energy at postal facilities and the transition to alternative-power delivery fleets emerging as key drivers of emissions reductions.
Germany’s Deutsche Post AG has reached a major milestone in fleet electrification, with 40,000 electric delivery vehicles now operating across the country. Through its Deutsche Post and DHL brands, the company operates the largest electric delivery fleet of any postal operator within a single market. The vehicles are supported by 44,400 charging points, with 95% of the electricity used coming from renewable sources.
Beyond last-mile delivery, postal operators are also focusing on reducing emissions from long-haul transportation. Deutsche Post currently operates 50 electric trucks and 570 bio-CNG trucks for mail and parcel transport, as part of its efforts to decarbonise its wider logistics operations.
Postal operators’ efforts to improve the sustainability of logistics are also gaining recognition from online retailers. An IPC survey of 2,500 e-retailers across 19 countries found that 70% were satisfied with the sustainability performance of postal operators. The survey covered retailers from markets including Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India? Wait, India not listed. Need not add. Could say "across Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America."
To improve transparency around the emissions generated by online orders, 13 postal operators within the IPC network have introduced a Carbon Footprint Calculator. The tool measures emissions from individual shipments across the full transportation chain, with data already collected from 95 million parcel shipments. The initiative aims to meet the growing demand for reliable sustainability data and support more informed decisions on emissions reduction. With additional postal operators expected to join, the calculator could provide a common framework for measuring the carbon footprint of cross-border shipments.
Tobias Meyer, CEO DHL Group, said, “Climate change is a physical challenge, not a political one, and we must address it. Green Postal Day demonstrates that postal operators around the world are making measurable progress in climate protection. The successful electrification of delivery operations, particularly here in Germany, shows what is already achievable today. We must now continue driving decarbonisation in long-haul transportation and air freight to meet our climate targets across the entire transportation value chain.”
With 40,000 electric vehicles now deployed for delivery operations, the company is strengthening its focus on e-mobility and lower-emission deliveries. The electrification of its fleet forms a key part of its long-term sustainability strategy, while growing customer demand for greener logistics solutions is further supporting the transition, shared Nikola Hagleitner, CEO of Post & Parcel Germany.
Established in 2019 by CEOs of postal operators participating in the IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS), Green Postal Day highlights the environmental and business benefits of collective efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions. The programme brings together postal operators across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
