4.2 Carbon footprint

Scope 1

Our gross scope 1 emissions in 2023 were 4 kilotonnes lower than in 2022, a drop of 15%, which we achieved by decreasing emissions from all our transport activities. Since 2020, we have sourced the natural gas we use sustainably by using the market-based instrument of purchasing Guarantees of Origin in relation to green gas. Underlying data shows that our nominal gas usage decreased significantly in 2023 for multiple (business) reasons, as detailed in the 'Energy efficiency of buildings' section of this chapter.

A mix of different factors contributed to our scope 1 reduction in 2023 compared to last year. Key examples include less kilometres driven, using more HVO100 compared to traditional diesel, and an increase in the amount of kilometres driven by electric small trucks.

Scope 2

We managed to maintain our gross scope 2 emissions at 0 kilotonnes in 2023 (2022: 0) We stimulate the use of sustainable electricity in our buildings and use the market-based instrument of purchasing Guarantees of Origin to ensure our electricity consumption is based on renewable energy. In addition to electricity, PostNL operates a small number of large buildings that use district heating from a local heating grid. The total emissions related to district heating are less than 0.5 kt CO₂ and are therefore rounded to 0 for this Annual Report. This resulted in gross scope 2 emissions of 0 (rounded). Our nominal electricity consumption slightly increased in 2023 to 67 million kWh (2022: 65 million kWh). As part of our ongoing transition to an electric vehicle fleet, in 2023 we expanded our charging infrastructure. The increase in kilometres driven by electric vehicles results in higher electricity consumption through our own fleet. This increase is offset by slightly lower electricity consumption from our buildings.

PostNL uses the market-based method for the formal reporting of our scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions. In accordance with the GHG protocol, we also calculated our location-based scope 2 emissions, which amounted to 22 kt CO₂ in 2023 (2022: 26 kt). The decrease is explained by more electricity generated from our solar panels. More detailed information can be found in the 'Energy efficiency of building' section of the 'Environmental value' chapter.

Scope 3

Our gross scope 3 emissions decreased by 9% compared to 2022, equal to 16 Kt CO₂. The majority of these emissions were related to outsourced transport activities by road and air, both in the Benelux and beyond, as well as employee commuting.

The emissions from employee commuting were 3 kt CO₂ lower than reported over 2022. The primary factor contributing to the decrease is the revised calculation method implemented in 2023. In addition, the reduction in headcount contributes to less employee commuting and consequently lower emissions.

Outsourced transport

The total emissions from outsourced transport decreased by 14 kilotonnes to 140 kt in 2023 ( 2022: 154 kt). Several factors contributed to the decrease of around 9% in 2023. Examples include less kilometres as result of volume developments and network efficiency especially for our large truck transport and time bound network, as well as several data quality improvements and growing sustainability measures at delivery partners for renewable fuels and electrification of vehicle fleet.

CO₂ compensation

For the reporting years 2022 and 2023, PostNL had a policy in place to compensate all its gross CO₂ emissions in scope of its Annual Report and validated Science Based Targets by the SBTi (current targets were validated in 2019) through CO₂ offset credits. Before 2022, PostNL used carbon offsets for a selection of CO₂ categories for which actual reduction measures were not, at the time, deemed feasible.

For 2023, we used CO₂ offset credits from certified projects by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Gold Standard, which is operated by the not-for-profit organisation Verra, to offset all our carbon emissions from scope 1, 2 and 3, resulting in net GHG emissions after compensation of 0 kilotonnes (2022: 0 kilotonnes). PostNL wants to make meaningful contributions to carbon reduction and has been applying high quality standards for carbon compensation. This includes criteria for vintage, credibility of types of projects and standards applied.

After a due internal review process during in 2023, PostNL decided to change its policy and stop using carbon offsets to compensate for all its reported emissions from 1 January 2024. Instead, we want to invest in more effective carbon reduction initiatives related to our operations and direct value chain.

Preparing for further developments in GHG reporting

In recent years, the focus of regulatory institutes and NGOs has increasingly turned to scope 3 outsourced CO₂ emissions. The Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) is an NGO which develops a framework to set targets adhering to the maximum 1.5^oC global warming goal set by the Paris Agreement. PostNL has had an approved SBT target in place since 2019, but which is up for renewal. The SBTi has updated its requirements for target setting which includes calculation of CO₂ emissions on the Well-to-Wheel (WTW) basis for new target submissions. So far, PostNL has reported and steered on its direct CO₂ emissions on Tank-to-Wheel basis (TTW). The difference between the two methods is called Well-to-Tank (WTT) emissions, which contains the indirect CO₂ emissions from the production and transport of fuels and are considered scope 3 emissions for PostNL. We therefore decided to start steering and formally report based on Well-to-Wheel emissions as of 2024.

Until 2023, strategic decisions and actions have been made based on the TTW emissions. Consequently, our formal reporting and performance evaluation have been based on this scope until 2023. In preparation of reporting on the CSRD, which requires reporting of scope 3 emissions for additional categories, and to align with the updated SBTi target requirements, we have chosen to be transparent about the calculated WTT and WTW emissions. The table below provides an overview of the gross emissions which form the basis for our steering and reporting of absolute emissions as of 2024.

PostNL GHG emissions (Well-to-Wheel) in kilotonnes CO₂
2019-2023

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For the calculation of the WTT and thus WTW emissions, the appropriated quantities of the different fuels used are multiplied with CO₂ conversion factors from the same independent external source as the TTW emission factors PostNL has been using for several years.