Austrian Post has been delivering in an environmentally friendly way for 10 years

Whether packages, letters, advertising mail or print media: As a pioneer in the logistics industry, the Austrian Post has been delivering all shipments in this country CO2-neutral since 2011. This high standard is achieved by reducing emissions, generating and sourcing green electricity, expanding the electric fleet, and promoting climate protection projects.

(Vienna) Ten years ago, the Post launched the initiative “CO2-NEUTRAL DELIVERY” to gradually improve its ecological footprint. Transport is the biggest lever for the logistics company to reduce CO2 emissions. The delivery personnel deliver around 4.8 billion shipments annually to nearly 4.7 million households and businesses. On their delivery routes, they cover approximately 115 million kilometers each year, which is equivalent to circling the equator 2,900 times. Against this backdrop, the Post has been working intensively for ten years to make its transport and the energy required for it as environmentally friendly as possible. This is verified annually by TÜV Austria, and the CO2-neutral delivery is confirmed through compensation. Subsequently, the Post hands over the popular “CO2-NEUTRAL DELIVERY” certificates to its business customers.

From 2024, exclusively electric vehicles for delivery

Currently, the Austrian Post has 2,100 electric vehicles, and their number is continuously being expanded. Environmental compatibility is the priority for new acquisitions: From 2024, only electric vehicles will be purchased for delivery. By 2030, all deliveries in Austria will be made using electric vehicles or alternative drives; starting in late summer 2021, Graz became the first major city in Europe where postal delivery is completely CO2-free. The Post is also a producer of green energy: It currently operates six photovoltaic systems with a capacity of around 2.4 megawatt peak (MWp) on logistics centers and other buildings. Additional systems with a capacity of 1.3 MWp are planned, and another 2.5 MWp is intended for realization in the medium term. Only green electricity from Austria is purchased. All CO2 emissions that are currently unavoidable are compensated by the retirement of CO2 certificates from recognized national and international climate protection projects.

720 certificates issued in 2020

The “CO2 NEUTRAL DELIVERY” initiative is also well received in society. 57 percent of Austrians are aware of the label, as surveys show. By delivering their shipments CO2-neutrally, the personal CO2 balance of customers is not burdened. Business customers can request a certificate that confirms the CO2-neutral delivery of all their shipments from the previous year. The Austrian Post issued around 720 such certificates for the past year alone. In addition, business customers can use the “CO2-NEUTRAL DELIVERY” logo for their communication. Due to COVID-19, a ceremonial handover of the certificates is being waived. Instead, all customers can create their own photo from the “award” online. For this purpose, the Post offers a dedicated online tool that allows customers to download their certificate and create a personal photo that can be used for corporate communication regarding CO2-neutral delivery and for social media. This way, the savings achieved can also be made known among their own customer base. Photo: © Austrian Post / Image caption: (from left): DI Peter Umundum, Board Member Package & Logistics, General Director DI Dr. Georg Pölzl, and DI Walter Oblin, Deputy General Director and Board Member Mail & Finance