PostNord’s environmental objectives are among the most ambitious in the industry: By 2020, the Group will reduce its carbon emissions by 40 percent, based on 2009 figures. With the Climate Fund, which was introduced in 2009, PostNord earmarks a sum yearly for environmental initiatives to speed up the pace in the environmental work.
The amount corresponds to the cost of offsetting carbon emissions for the previous year. Carbon offsetting involves voluntarily offsetting one’s own carbon emissions by paying for the same amount of carbon to be saved elsewhere. PostNord is not against this concept, but chooses instead to use the money for decreasing the environmental impact of our own operations.
For 2012 65 million SEK have been earmarked. Proposals previously adopted or implemented include:
Energy recovery from machines
Warm sorting machines created a hot and dusty work environment at the sorting terminal in Umeå, Sweden. Posten Norden invested in a solution that vacuums hot air into a heat exchange system that in turn heats the premises, creating a better work environment and saving energy.
More electric vehicles
Posten Norden’s fleet of 3,000 electric vehicles is one the largest among Europe’s postal operators. The investment in electric cars has lowered maintenance costs and reduced noise pollution. It has also increased the proportion of fossil-free postal distribution, in part through the use of ”green electricity”. With resources coming partially from the Climate Fund, Posten Norden increased the number of electric cars in Denmark.
Collaboration for sustainable transport
From September 2010, Posten Norden has participated in a two-year test of BioDME, a new fuel that has very little impact on the climate. Participating in the tests, which are being headed by Volvo Trucks with support from the EU and the Swedish Energy Agency, is a way for us to contribute to the development of sustainable fuels while evaluating alternative fuels for our own vehicle fleet.
Energy optimization at printing presses
With support from the Climate Fund, Information Logistics’ operations in Poland initiated a number of activities in late 2010 designed to optimize energy use. The machines in the printing press in Laskowice radiate heat that is now recaptured and re-used in the facility’s heating system. The previous oil-based heating system now only fills a backup function. New lighting has been installed and measures have been taken to reduce the machines’ total electricity consumption.
Improved sealing around door frames
At the terminal in Voss, Norway, the loading doors have been better sealed. The measures have led to a more stable indoor temperature and reduced energy consumption.
Improved energy efficiency at parcel terminal
Copenhagen’s parcel terminal in Brøndby has long focused on environmental efficiency in order to be classified as a ”green terminal”. With support from the
Climate Fund, electric fittings with longer life cycles, motion detectors and daylight regulators have replaced the lighting in the production facilities. This measure reduced energy use by 60%. Estimated annual savings total DKK 1m per year and the investment is expected to pay for itself in as soon as 17 months.
More energy-efficient lighting at letter terminal
At the Swedish letter terminals and mail carrier offices in Gothenburg, Posten Norden implemented environmental efficiency measures similar to those in Copenhagen. More energy-efficient lights will save 585,000 kilowatthours per year, and about the same amount in Swedish kronor. The investment in the new lighting fittings is expected to pay for itself within three years for the terminal and within one year for the mail carrier office.