Sustainability at Royal Mail
With the UK's largest 'Feet on the Street' network of over 85,000 postmen and women Royal Mail already has the lowest reported carbon emissions per parcel of any major UK delivery company.
But we want to go further, taking action to continually reduce emissions, reduce waste and improve the air quality in the communities in which we operate. This includes investing in technologies such as electric vehicles, drones, alternative fuel trucks and energy improvements to our estate.
We are committed to providing sustainable services for our customers and communities as we deliver against our environmental ambitions.
We aim to be carbon neutral, or ‘net zero’ by 2050. This target will be periodically reviewed and brought forward if possible.
Managing our waste in accordance with the principle Prevention, Re-use, Recycle, we are committed to reducing our waste and driving behaviours to a circular economy approach.
It’s our ambition for 100% of our fleet to be powered by alternative fuel by 2050, improving the air quality for the communities in which we operate.
We have a robust structure in place to review and manage our environmental impact, including climate-related risks.
Innovation
Whilst our ‘Feet on the Street’ play a huge role in reducing our carbon emissions, we’re also looking at innovative ways to decarbonise further.
We are committed to providing sustainable services for our customers and communities as we deliver against our environmental ambitions.
We are working hard to reduce the emissions of our operations. Building on our network of on-foot deliveries, we are also rolling out electric vehicles, and trialling vehicle and building technology such as renewable energy generation to help reduce our emissions even further.
This year we have begun the roll out of a further 3,000 electric delivery and collection vehicles which will mean we have the largest electric fleet in the UK by the end of March 2022. We have also started the roll out of all-electric delivery offices, meaning all deliveries from these locations are zero emission. In addition, by early 2022, we be using 100% renewable electricity across our estate.
By March 2022 we expect to have c.3,300 electric vehicles in the Royal Mail fleet – the largest of any UK operator.
We continue to trial other alternative fuel vehicles such as micro electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as other delivery models – including delivery by drone!
Our 'Feet on the Street' network of over 85,000 postmen and women means that we are able to collect your parcel whilst we are out delivering, overall resulting in fewer emissions and less congestion from any additional journeys needed to post your parcel.
Unique to Royal Mail, three quarters of our parcel deliveries are made purely by foot or through a park and loop method, combining low mileage van movements and on-foot delivery. You could say our deliveries are powered by posties!
Please take a look at our 2020-21 Corporate Responsibly report here.
We are working to implement the recommendations of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures, ensuring we have the right governance, risk management, strategy and metrics in place to address the impacts of climate change on our business.
We have identified five of the Goals that are particularly relevant to the priority areas for our business. We will focus on making progress against these Goals through our work in areas such as health, safety and wellbeing, our community programmes, our diversity and inclusion programmes and the implementation of our environmental strategy.