Swiss Post Prints Receipts Only on Request

It’s no secret: Receipts are often left at the checkout, crumpled into handbags, or end up in the trash after shopping. This leads to unnecessary paper consumption. The Post aims to counteract this. For postal transactions, receipts will only be provided upon explicit request – with a few exceptions.

(Bern) The small, white receipt is unpopular with many – a disposable product. It is well known that such slips are often not only unnecessary but also not very environmentally friendly. In recent months, Post employees have increasingly noticed that customers want to forgo paper receipts. To respond to this need and reduce unnecessary paper consumption, the Post has taken action: From the end of March, receipts for purchases of items such as stamps or envelopes will only be available upon explicit request. However, this is different for warranty certificates or registered letters. For these and all shipments that have a tracking number, receipts will still be printed. This ensures that both customers and the Post are legally protected.

A Service for the Environment

With the receipt on request, the Post hits two birds with one stone. It responds to customer needs while also providing a service for the environment. Overall, the Post saves around 13 tons of CO₂e. This corresponds to, for example, five flights from Zurich to Rio de Janeiro and back – about 50,000 flight kilometers. Additionally, by printing on request, the Post saves 17 percent of the paper rolls (ordered paper quantity in 2019: 13.5 million running meters).

Appropriate Framework Conditions

But why didn’t the Post switch to receipts on request earlier? The reason is as follows: In the branches, the Post offers various products and services. Whether postcards, items with warranty certificates, registered letters, or packages: Everything had to be categorized first, and the legal framework conditions for each product had to be carefully checked. When purchasing postcards, one can safely forgo a receipt, as only with the receipt can it ultimately be proven where and when a specific shipment was sent and received.

Sustainability: The Goals of the Post

Sustainability is a top priority for the Post. Whether the Post delivers millions of letters, processes packages, digitizes documents, or transports passengers from A to B: Everything involved is designed to be as sustainable as possible.

• The climate goal of the Swiss Post aligns with stabilizing global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, as stated in the Paris Climate Agreement of the United Nations.
• By 2040, the Post aims to be climate-neutral as a company: Through further expansion of renewable energies in buildings and the transition to alternative drives for all vehicles, including postal buses, direct and indirect CO₂ emissions will be reduced as much as possible.
• By the end of 2020, the Post aimed to increase its CO₂ efficiency by 25 percent compared to 2010, surpassing this with 29.8 percent. Additionally, since January 2021, all Post shipments have been labeled “pro clima” and are thus CO₂-compensated.
• As a proven basic provider and backbone of mobility for city and countryside, the Swiss Post makes an important contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The receipt on request has a special impact on Goal 12 regarding sustainable consumption and production.

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