Swiss Post Acquires Kickbag GmbH

With the booming online trade, the consumption of packaging materials is also increasing. The Post has set ambitious goals regarding sustainability and aims to contribute to sustainable packaging solutions. Therefore, as of December 16, 2022, it has acquired the St. Gallen company Kickbag GmbH – a small innovative company that offers reusable packaging. The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price and the terms of the acquisition confidential.

(St. Gallen) Online trade is booming. More and more people in Switzerland are ordering their goods online and having them conveniently delivered to their homes. While this is convenient, it also brings more packaging materials, such as cardboard, paper, and plastic, which end up in recycling stations or in the trash. Studies show that those who order online increasingly value sustainable shipping. Customers are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly packaging and emissions-free shipping. Sustainability has become an important purchasing criterion for many consumers. As a logistics provider, the Post can support online retailers with sustainable packaging solutions.

A Logical Step to Support Online Retailers

The Post aims to contribute to more sustainable packaging solutions. Various projects with reusable packaging are already underway, in line with the principles of the circular economy. In this area, the St. Gallen company Kickbag GmbH offers a clever solution – and has been doing so since its founding in 2020 in collaboration with the Post.

The so-called Kickbag is a reusable packaging solution for online trade. It is a sealable bag made from recycled PET or plastic. The special feature of the shipping bag is that it can be reused up to 30 times. It can be used either to return goods or sent back to the retailer for free via the yellow mailbox. Since the company’s founding, the Post has been the logistics partner of Kickbag GmbH. With the reusable bag, the Post aims to support online retailers in making their shipping more sustainable. Therefore, the Post has decided to further promote the smart solution of the Kickbag and integrate it into its own structures. Thus, the Post acquired the company as of December 16, 2022. “Logistics is our core competence. We pick up and deliver goods daily to millions of doorsteps in Switzerland. It makes sense for us to also take back packaging and focus on reusable solutions,” says Johannes Cramer, Head of Logistics Services and member of the Executive Board. “Integrating the Kickbag into our service offering is a logical step. We are thereby supporting online retailers and the public in implementing the circular economy in Switzerland and making the shipping of goods more sustainable.”

Aspiring Sustainability Goals

A sustainable future for the next generation – this is a central concern for the Post. Starting in 2030, the entire yellow vehicle fleet will operate with alternative drives. The Post sources 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energies in Switzerland. Additionally, it fully utilizes the potential of the large roofs of its logistics centers and increasingly also the facades, operating some of the largest photovoltaic systems in Switzerland.

Photo: © Kickbag GmbH