2.3 Pollution

Within the broader ESRS Pollution topic, reducing and preventing air pollution is an integral part of our transition plan, supporting our strategic objective to minimise environmental impact. We are advancing towards our 2040 net-zero ambition by expanding zero-emission logistics.

2.3.1 Our actions

In 2025, we continued to take concrete steps to reduce air pollution across our network helping us to achieve our policy objectives and science-based targets. We expanded the use of zero-emission vehicles in urban areas, further electrified our fleet, and optimised delivery routes to limit unnecessary mileage. For more information on our actions related to electrification of our fleet, refer to section Climate change mitigation earlier in the environmental disclosures.

2.3.2 Our performance

In this section we outline the progress we made in reducing air pollution in 2025, as part of our wider environmental objectives. Our efforts focused on lowering emissions from transport and operations, supported by investments in cleaner vehicles, route optimisation, and the increased use of renewable energy. Across key urban areas, we continued to expand our zero-emission delivery network and monitored improvements in local air quality. These actions have brought us closer to achieving our 2040 net-zero ambition.

Our emission-free delivery target is partly mandatory, reflecting legal requirements for operate zero-emission within designated zero-emission zones. At the same time, it is partly voluntary, as we pro-actively extend zero-emission delivery to areas beyond regulatory obligations to accelerate progress towards cleaner logistics.

For more information on our target setting including advancing towards our 2040 net-zero ambition by expanding emission-free logistics, we refer to Our performance, specifically to our Alignment with the Green Deal for City Logistics and additional regulations as part of the section Climate change mitigation earlier in the environmental disclosures.

2.3.2.1 Pollution of air

Air pollution from own fleet

As a logistics service provider, we have no industrial production processes involving pollution of water and soil. Microplastics are not generated or used. We therefore focus on air pollution caused by transport vehicles. Our reporting scope includes air pollution of our own fleet. In the upcoming years, we will monitor developments in the market and regulations to align our reporting with.

PostNL Air pollution from own fleet in kilogrammes

Currently, we report on our key emissions nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). While sulphur oxides (SOx) are also pollutants, we do not report on these emissions, as the sulphur content of diesel in the European market is relatively low and our estimated emissions are well below the 150,000 kilogram threshold (see Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 166/2006). All other pollutants listed in Annex II are not applicable or are not material for PostNL.

It is not practical and would be too costly to gather real-time data on exhaust emissions and road, brake and surface wear on a per-vehicle basis. Therefore, emissions from combustion are calculated based on the maximum permissible emission per Euro category, expressed in grammes per kilometre, multiplied by the kilometres driven by our small and large trucks. As a result, the reported data is based on estimates.

The emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particle matter (PM10/PM2.5 ) are not directly linked to the use of combustion fuels but depend primarily on engine efficiency. By applying the maximum permissible emission levels, PostNL reports the NOx and PM10/PM2.5 exhaust emissions on a conservative basis. In addition to particle matter resulting from combustion, we also report on PM10 and PM2.5 emissions arising brake, tyre and road surface wear, using emission factors from PDEF. Insights into reductions in NOx and PM10/PM2.5 emissions resulting from combustion can be derived from the Euro classification table. A higher Euro standard means more stringent emission limits. Euro Z refers to vehicles with zero exhaust emissions, such as electric vehicles. Developments in air quality are closely linked to the types of vehicles in use. Accordingly, trends shown in the Air pollution from own fleet table are explained alongside those from the Compliance with Euro emission norms table.

In 2025, we reduced total exhaust NOx emissions from our fleet by 13% compared to 2024. In addition, we achieved reductions of 9% in PM10 and 9% in PM2.5 emissions. These reductions can be attributed to replacing Euro 6 small trucks with electric (Euro Z) vehicles and to fewer kilometres driven.

All of our trucks comply with at least the Euro 6 emission standard, while an increasing number of delivery vans have been replaced by electric Euro Z models. This transition is especially important to improve air quality in inner cities.

PostNL Compliance with Euro emission norms
share per euro norm

“Reducing and preventing air pollution is integral to our climate transition plan”