DP mail travels CO2 neutral across the globe

Good news for the climate and for Deutsche Post’s customers: since 01JAN22, the company is ensuring climate neutral mail transports by compensating the greenhouse gas emissions that arise during shipping, predominantly through air carriage. This applies to all domestic and global mail transport. The service is included in the regular postal fees, so it does not cost customers any extra money.

In 2020, DP handled 14.3 billion letters. Measured in length, if the envelopes were lined up in a row, this would roughly correspond to 1.4 billion meters. A rope that would reach far into space or cover the earth several times over if the letters were placed next to each other along the equator. The main CO2 emissions culprit in mail logistics is the transport by air. However, until Deutsche Post’s current initiative, this issue has so far not been in the spotlight.

Compensation projects are constantly monitored
The emissions per shipment are calculated separately as an average value for domestic mail items and for international shipments, says DP. The calculation method is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Standard and is regularly audited externally by a neutral certification agent, DP spokesperson Sarah Preuss assured CargoForwarder.
The greenhouse gases released during transport can only be reduced or completely avoided in the long term through progressive e-mobility and hydrogen-powered aircraft. However, that is likely to take years, if not decades. Deutsche Post therefore relies on the instrument of offsetting CO2 by investing in recognized and monitored climate protection projects. For the roughly 6.5 billion letters handled domestically by Deutsche Post’s letter mail operations in 2020, this would translate into an offset of more than 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

Eco-friendly investments
In Chile, DP is investing in wind farms producing clean and emission-free energy as a substitute for fossil resources. The project, located 300 km north of Santiago, consists of 2 wind farms called “El Pacifico” and “La Cebada” with a total of 57 turbines.
In Laos, DP is aiming to reduce the local population's need for firewood. There, the Group is offsetting its own CO2 emissions by investing in a hydropower plant to supply rural regions with electricity. The country has so far lacked the financial resources to do this.
These are just 2 examples among others.
High sustainability standards are set for all compensation projects. The main goal is the benefit for the environment but also the needs of residents who are offered new jobs, bettering their living conditions, the Group emphasizes.