Parcel density and supply chain targeted to help Australia Post meet its carbon reduction targets
Australia Post aims to save $10 million every year by embracing environmentally sustainable options into the future, as it aims to cut emissions to 25 per cent of its 2000 levels by 2020.
The company cut emissions from 348,436 tonnes in 2000 to 279,737 tonnes in 2016-17, despite what chief financial officer Janelle Hopkins says has been a recent growth in domestic parcel volumes.
“We are seeing immediate returns as we unlock renewable energy at some of our busiest sites, which helps to insulate the business against rising energy prices,” Hopkins says.
Hopkins made the comments on the release of Australia Post’s Environmental Action Plan 2018-2020, which the company says will help it shape future activities that will lead to long-term sustainability, and reach its 2020 target of 261,327t of carbon emissions.
“In the last eight years we have been working to aggressively reduce our carbon footprint, even going beyond our own sites to account for our third-party supply chain,” she says.
Among these moves are a partnership with Linfox, to move “as much freight as possible to rail”, and a new technology to sort suitable parcels directly to trailers.
“The density of freight within loose loaded trailers has been increased by more than 93 per cent, reducing our requirement for prime movers and fuel,” the plan said.
Another initiative, to use more fuel efficient motorcycles had helped save 1.2 million tonnes of fuel, or $1.4 million, annually and helped the company become 62 per cent more fuel efficient since 2013.
Australia Post says the use of electric mail bicycles have enabled posties to reach 1,000 delivery points and cover up to 35km in a day, while the first trials of electric vans and three wheeled electric vehicles could see this technology implemented across the company in the future.
Another move to increased efficiency is the installation of solar panels at some 49 company sites, including the Sydney Parcels Facility which Australia Post says helps save it some $800,000 per year.
Hopkins says Australia Post is seeing “immediate returns” as it moved to renewable energy, adding that partnerships with groups like TerraCycle, Planet Ark and Mobile Muster have also helped the company to remove some 26,000 tonnes of material from landfill.
“We also helped develop the world-first Nespresso recycling satchel to send used coffee pods to a purpose-built recycling centre, and our own satchel packaging is now completely recyclable,” she says.
“We’re excited to see Australia Post make an even greater commitment towards delivering better commercial and environmental outcomes for the Australian community.”