Global Postal Industry Marks Green Postal Day with Major Climate Achievements
Today, 22 postal companies around the world are marking Green Postal Day, a collective initiative that highlights the industry’s shared commitment to tackling climate change as a global, interconnected sector. Postal operators, which play a central role in transport and logistics, are demonstrating that sustainability can be achieved through collaboration, innovation, and long-term vision.
From Europe to the Americas, Oceania, Africa, and Southeast Asia, postal operators have been working together for more than 15 years under the umbrella of the International Post Corporation (IPC). Since the IPC partnership was launched in 2008, participating postal companies have collectively reduced their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 31 million tons. To put this achievement into perspective, this reduction is equivalent to the annual CO2 savings generated by installing 31 million solar panels in place of fossil fuel power, or removing 6.7 million cars from the road.
This milestone demonstrates that even industries with vast operational footprints can make measurable progress in decarbonization when they join forces and share best practices.
A Tradition of Collaboration
Postal services are built on international cooperation. For over 150 years, postal operators have relied on global standards to ensure that letters and parcels move seamlessly across borders. This same spirit of collaboration has become the foundation of their climate action efforts.
DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer emphasized the sector’s progress:
“Collaboration has been a cornerstone of the global postal industry for more than a century. Together, we have established common standards that allow letters and parcels to be exchanged seamlessly across borders. Sharing the same goal, postal operators from 22 countries have succeeded in reducing their annual CO2 emissions by one third. As an industry, we have already achieved significant progress: much of the ‘last mile’ is now electrified, around 30% of the electricity used comes from renewable sources (as much as 95% at DHL), and ever more distribution centers are being built with ecological standards in mind. For the industry as a whole and for DHL Group in particular, the next decisive step is to advance the electrification of heavy-duty transport and to make aviation cleaner using modern fleets and sustainable aviation fuels.”
Industry-Wide Sustainability Measures
The postal sector began its collective sustainability journey in 2008 with the launch of the Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS). This framework provided a standardized way to measure emissions and track progress across multiple operators. In 2019, the system was enhanced through the Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS), which broadened the focus beyond emissions to include resource efficiency and wider environmental performance.
Since then, postal companies have managed to reduce their total annual CO2 emissions by one third, with a clear pledge to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030.
The industry’s decarbonization strategy focuses on two main pillars:
- Transitioning Facilities to Renewable Energy – Postal companies are investing heavily in renewable electricity to power their sorting centers, warehouses, and offices. This transition directly addresses the 1.57 million metric tons of Scope 2 emissions generated by postal buildings annually. Solar power installations, heat pumps, and energy-efficient designs are already in use across many operators, with further expansion planned.
- Greening the Global Vehicle Fleet – The industry operates around 600,000 vehicles worldwide, making transportation the largest contributor to emissions. Postal companies are steadily replacing diesel and petrol vehicles with electric vans, trucks powered by biogas or compressed natural gas, and other clean alternatives.
Tackling the Last Mile and Beyond
Decarbonizing the “last mile” of delivery—where parcels are transported directly to homes and businesses—has been a priority. Many postal operators have already electrified much of this segment, deploying thousands of battery-powered vans, bikes, and even cargo scooters in dense urban areas. This shift is especially impactful given that the last mile is both energy-intensive and highly visible to consumers.
At the same time, attention is turning to heavy-duty transport and aviation, which are more challenging to decarbonize but account for a large share of emissions. Initiatives include:
- Expanding the use of electric trucks for regional and long-distance routes.
- Optimizing truck loading and route planning to reduce fuel consumption.
- Testing alternative fuels for air freight, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
By addressing both short-range and long-range logistics, postal companies are laying the groundwork for a deeply decarbonized future.
DHL Group’s Leadership in Sustainability
Among the 22 participating operators, DHL Group stands out for its ambitious climate targets and concrete investments. Guided by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), DHL Group has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions from 40 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2021 to less than 29 million by 2030.
Key strategies include:
- Scaling up sustainable fuels – DHL is increasing its use of SAF in aviation and biogas for CNG trucks. In 2024, the company used 74 kilotons of SAF across its fleet, representing a 3.5% blending ratio, the highest in the aviation industry.
- Expanding electric delivery vehicles – DHL now operates 35,000 electric delivery vans in its German mail and parcel division alone, making it Europe’s largest electric fleet. Supporting infrastructure includes 40,000 charging stations, with 95% of the electricity sourced from renewables.
- Cleaner long-distance road transport – DHL has deployed 450 CNG trucks powered by biogas to handle inter-parcel center routes.
- Sustainable buildings – New facilities are designed with photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and smart automation. Currently, 195 buildings are equipped with solar power, delivering an output of 22 megawatts peak (MWp).
Through these measures, DHL is not only reducing its own carbon footprint but also setting a benchmark for the wider postal and logistics industry.
The Road to 2030
While significant progress has been made, the postal sector acknowledges that the toughest challenges lie ahead. Heavy-duty trucks and aircraft remain major sources of emissions, and large-scale adoption of alternatives like SAF, hydrogen fuel cells, and next-generation electric trucks will be necessary to meet 2030 targets.
At the same time, investment in renewable energy infrastructure must accelerate. Postal operators are expanding their use of solar panels, green electricity contracts, and energy-efficient technologies to further reduce building-related emissions.
Collaboration will remain the backbone of progress. By sharing technology, harmonizing sustainability standards, and investing in joint solutions, postal operators can continue to drive efficiency and innovation across borders.
A Sector Delivering More Than Mail
The achievements highlighted on Green Postal Day underscore the evolving role of the global postal sector. No longer seen as traditional mail carriers alone, postal operators are now major players in climate action, sustainable transport, and energy transition. Their collective effort shows that industries with large environmental footprints can achieve measurable reductions in emissions without compromising service or efficiency.
As the world races toward decarbonization, the postal industry stands as an example of how long-standing institutions can reinvent themselves for a sustainable future—delivering not just mail and parcels, but also meaningful climate solutions.