PostNord and partners pave the way for fossil-free heavy transport

Central to this effort is PostNord’s involvement in the Pathways Coalition, a partnership devoted to accelerating the transition to sustainable transport solutions and establishing conditions for a fossil-free commercial transport system by 2050.

“We wish to take the lead in the climate transition of the logistics industry, and our overall goal is fossil-free transportation and operations by 2030,” says Amanda Jackson, Head of Group Sustainability and owner of the Green by PostNord transition program.

The journey towards fossil-free heavy transport operations demands new technology, new infrastructure, and new business models. Above all, it requires close collaboration across multiple industries to achieve the necessary speed of change. “We rely on other industries to do their part, to enable us to reach our targets,” says Amanda.

Joining forces across the value chain

PostNord is the first logistics operator elected to the Coalition and is currently chairing the steering group, which meets regularly to define the roadmap and assess progress. Other member companies representing different parts of the value chain are E.ON, H&M Group, Scania, Siemens, and Ericsson.

A collaborative approach ensures that progress is both rapid and resilient, speeding up the transition to greener logistics. “For us, the Pathways Coalition is an important platform for learning, sharing, and collaborating across the value chain, but also a way to join forces to voice what we see is needed to enable a transition to fossil-free heavy transport and impact others,” says Amanda.

Emilia Käck, Public Affairs Manager Electrification at Scania, reinforces this collaborative spirit. “With the Pathways Coalition, we get representation from all parts of the transport value chain – from the power grid and charging infrastructure to truck manufacturers, transport companies, and transport buyers. It’s a valuable way to exchange experiences and to be clearer and more concrete in our dialogues with authorities, municipalities, and politicians.”

Sharing knowledge and experience

As the first logistics operator to join the Coalition and one of the largest operators in the Nordic region, PostNord brings crucial insights from the transport sector. Our understanding of the operational challenges of switching to fossil-free transport solutions complements the expertise of the Coalition’s existing players. By leveraging our collective knowledge, we aim to drive meaningful progress towards a greener future of heavy transport.

“We collaborated on several different plans within the Coalition,” says Amanda. “From creating competence transfer and driving public opinion through seminars at Sweden’s political festival Almedalsveckan to  investigating potential pilots and projects. Another important part is that we are close to each other and can share knowledge and experience, for instance, around emission reductions in the value chain.”

A unified path to decarbonization

While the puzzle pieces are coming together, Amanda acknowledges that challenges may lie ahead. Given the different needs of the various sectors, developing an optimal roadmap for such a complex topic is not always easy.

Heavy transport remains one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize, requiring solutions that are yet to be invented or not yet widely available. However, by focusing on this sector, the Pathways Coalition is set to significantly reduce overall carbon emissions and meet the climate goals set for 2030.

“By understanding each other’s challenges and opportunities, we can more easily help each other to transition,” says Emilia.

Amanda echoes these sentiments, concluding, “I hope we can continue to strengthen the value chain collaboration and inspire and impact both decision-makers and peers to speed up the climate transition at large and in the decarbonization of heavy transport in particular.”