4.1 CO2 efficiency and emission-free delivery
As a postal and logistic solutions provider, it is clear we have an impact on the environment, and that our operations emit carbon as well as other emissions. In the 'Environmental value' chapter, we explain our strategy to reduce our environmental impact, the development in our performance and our short- and long-term targets. In our risk management process we evaluate physical, regulatory and reputational climate change-related risks. We identified that our main risks relate to not meeting our long-term reduction targets. No significant physical and regulatory climate change-related risks were identified during 2023.
PostNL CO2 efficiency as indicated
2019 - 2023
| Year ended at 31 December | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 efficiency (scope 1 and 2 emissions in grams CO2 per km) | 245 | 249 | 203 | 152 | 136 |
| Emission-free last-mile delivery | 19% | 20% | 20% | 22% | 24% |
Since 2019 we have been steering on two KPIs to monitor our progress in reducing environmental impact, CO2 efficiency of our own operations and emission-free delivery of parcels and mail in the Benelux, by ourselves and our delivery partners (scope 3).
Making progress on these two metrics cover the main elements of our business to achieve our long-term formal absolute and relative CO2 targets until 2030, which are validated as being in line with the Paris Agreement on the climate by the Science based Target Initiative (SBTi). We have set these targets to reduce our environmental footprint and drive sustainable growth of the business.
CO2 efficiency
We measure our CO2 efficiency as the total CO2 emissions from our own operations, both fleet and buildings, expressed per kilometre transported. The total transported kilometres include the kilometres of all our networks, both motorised and unmotorised (foot and bike). We monitor the progress on our targets through a comparison with the annual target setting and steer actively on our progress. The CO2 efficiency was 136 grammes per kilometre in 2023, which was ahead of our target for the year (143 grammes per kilometre).
Emission-free delivery
In 2018, we introduced a target to deliver 100% of our mail and parcels emission-free in the last-mile in the Benelux by 2030, which we report as the share of emission-free kilometres compared to the total kilometres transported. This includes kilometres from our own operations and of our delivery partners and includes the collection of mail and parcels with small trucks and vans and other light vehicles. The share of emission-free last-mile delivery of mail and parcels was 24% in 2023 (2022: 22%).
More information about our CO2 efficiency and emission-free delivery can be found in the 'Environmental value' chapter.