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Environmental issues are often discussed when talking to our supply chain partners. Being in the communication and delivery business does present us all with challenges; however, it’s really encouraging to note that many of our supply chain partners have already made significant progress in becoming more environmentally friendly.

We don’t have the room to provide in depth analysis of their various policies, or indeed include all of our various partners, but the following should give you a flavour of what is currently happening. As an independent source of management for postal solutions ONEPOST are able to take a 'step back' to really determine the optimal solution - not just in terms of financial savings, but in logistical terms too. For example, on occasions it may be more appropriate for ONEPOST to arrange independent courier collections and deliver mail directly into an operator’s hub or even Royal Mail IMC.

For example, for one client mailing business to business in Bristol, we organised a direct delivery from the Bristol mailing house to the Bristol Royal Mail Inward Mailing Centre, thereby avoiding any unnecessary journey to a Midlands hub and back again.

 

CitySprint, the UK’s largest privately owned SameDay Courier network, first developed its environmental programme in 2002. Since then CitySprint has continually updated and improved its programme and today it operates a comprehensive environmental programme which has been implemented internally and externally. CitySprint engages with clients to help them reduce their own carbon footprint by producing monthly reports on the carbon emissions produced by using the various courier services provided by CitySprint and by showing them ways in which they may reduce or offset them.

This approach is also extended via business networking and, as Simon Baker, CSR Manager at CitySprint says…

“A lot of CSR managers work together to try and find ways to reduce emissions and also spread Environmental best practice.”

CitySprint’s environmental programme has been accredited with the 14001:2004 - Environmental Management System (EMS) and has also won several industry awards including the 2007 International Freighting Weekly (IFW) Environmental Award, the Transport for London Private Sector Capital Fleet of the Year Award at the 2007 GreenFleet Awards and the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the 2007 UK Mail Awards. However, CitySprint is not complacent and clearly demonstrates its commitment to environmental improvement by continually seeking ways to streamline its procedures and ensure transport efficiencies. Tough targets are also in place and as Simon goes on to point out…

“We are looking to increase our‘energy efficient’ vehicles by 30% and reduce our own energy output by 5% this year.”

 

TNT Post and its parent group TNT is committed to continuously developing its products and services to suit all business’ needs. So, it comes as no surprise to see they are also committed to adopting practices to lessen the environmental impact of its operations.

Their corporate and social responsibility (CSR) programme focuses on an integrated approach aimed at improving their social and environmental impact, such as reducing carbon emissions. Simon Dolph who is Head of Marketing at TNT Post and responsible for the company’s CSR initiatives explains further…

“Not only do we have to look at our travel, our buildings, our energy, our company cars and our operational vehicles, we also need to look at our product development and one of our mandatory policies is that by the end of the year, each business unit should look to introduce a green version of one of its products.”

In June 2008, TNT Post launched the UK’s first carbon neutral mailing service, CarbonNeutral, for business addressed mail. This new service enables organisations to evaluate, reduce, and offset the carbon emissions related to their mailings. The initiative has been developed in conjunction with The CarbonNeutral Company and creates benefits for both customers and the environment.

To further emphasise the TNT Post commitment to sustainability issues Dolph goes on to state...

“…Our CEO has a mantra and that is people, planet, profit… we look after our people, we care about the planet…and by doing our business sensibly then hopefully there’s profit at the end of the day.”

Clearly TNT is embracing an active environmental policy and this has been recognised when in both 2007 and 2008 it claimed first place in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

 

DHL - Founded in San Francisco almost 40 years ago by 3 budding entrepreneurs - Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn - DHL has continued to expand at a phenomenal rate. Today they are part of Deutsche Post World Net the global market leader in international transportation and logistics with revenues of over 63bn Euros. And more than 500,000 employees in 220 countries.

DPWN has set itself the goal of improving its CO2 efficiency 30% by 2020. They have identified key areas where the most significant environmental impact is made and gone on to set specific objectives – in particular, vehicle emissions, waste, energy and environmental incidents.

These objectives are:-

• Vehicle emissions: To reduce particulate and emissions of noxious fumes from commercial vehicle fleet
• Waste: To reduce waste created through operations and promote re-use and recovery
• Energy: Reduce Energy Consumption
• Environmental Incidents: Minimise the frequency and impact of all environmental incidents relating to sites and activities

To demonstrate the level of their commitment it’s interesting to note that as long ago as 1997 DHL introduced a ‘green’ fleet of delivery vehicles run on liquid petroleum gas (LPG). This remains as a part of an ongoing initiative design to minimise environmental impact. Many objectives, particularly vehicle emissions have already been met, these include speed limitations and fuel awareness campaigns.

Transport is fundamental to their strategy and as Ian Gray, Head of Domestic Sales at DHL Global Mail explains...

“We were the first to use a hybrid containership with a gigantic sail across the Atlantic and are trialling a number of electrically powered hybrid vehicles. The early signs are very encouraging.”

As a first step, the group is striving to improve carbon efficiency of its own operations by 10% by 2012.

Measures are:

• Fleet Optimization: Gradual replacement of air and ground fleets.
• Energy Efficiency: Thorough examination of the energy efficiency of real estate assets.
• Innovation Technology: Bundling innovation activities in a research centre.
• Changing Behaviour: Supporting employees in leading an environment-friendly life both at work and at home.
• Sharing Responsibility: Option for customers to send their shipment in a
  carbon neutral way.

 

Citipost - Operating for just over 20 years, Citipost offers a full range of courier, mailing and distribution services.

At the time of publishing, their environmental policy (including CSR) is being finalised. There will be several key points to the strategy including the general use of paper, responsible disposal of operational cardboard and the offer of incentives for reduced distribution of mail products.

As with many of our business partners, Citipost will be looking to make a real difference in the marketplace and Rob Bradford who is responsible for implementing their environmental policy says…

“We are developing a‘responsible mail’ product which will be available to mailing houses and Citipost will actively encourage key partners to register for the service.

Rob goes on to say that…

“There will also be a ‘responsible distribution’ service which will be suitable for regionalised postings where a mailing house produces a large mailing for one mail centre. Instead of carrying this traffic to a national hub, the items will be collected on the way to the Royal Mail Centre, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the mail.”

In line with best practice guidelines, Citipost will also be tracking their progress via some key measures in areas such as waste management, reduced carbon footprint and corporate social responsibility.

 

DX Group is the leading independent mail and courier company in the UK and Ireland. Being a geographically distributed network business DX recognises their possible impact on communities across the country. They have had an environmental policy since 2004, have reviewed both their social and environmental risks and are managing those which may impact
on long term performance and reputation.

The DX environmental policy is very much driven from an internal perspective and believe it is essential to gain staff buy in.

David Sparkes, who heads up both the Health & Safety as well as environmental
responsibilities says…

“We have a culture which has moved from the point of you will do it because it’s legislation to a… no, we’ll do it because we want to do the right thing.”

DX are totally committed to staff training and the associated compliance with
environmental legislation. David goes on to state...

“If you impose it rather than develop it with staff then its short term. If you develop it, then it becomes long term and embedded.”

These commitments extends into operating a fair, open and honest communication in all their business relationships. DX are working on measures to track progress in areas such as the monitoring of waste and the reduction of pollution.

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