How we reduce our environmental impact
PostNord is filling up vehicles and optimizing routes. Constantly striving to ensure that vehicles are filled to capacity and taking the most intelligent routes possible to cut the costs and reduce the environmental impact of each shipment.
Greater capacity utilization
In PostNord’s integrated production model, letters, parcels, and heavier goods are handled at the same location, and vehicles are used for all types of mail items. This helps to reduce emissions. We are developing advanced IT solutions for planning, controlling, and monitoring production and transportation.
We are also continuously developing our methods for efficient loading of vehicles and optimizing routes. During 2018, we undertook further work on building infrastructure, optimizing transportation, and developing IT solutions. Work on equipping all vehicles with telematics systems continued.
Energy-efficient buildings
PostNord is streamlining its use of its premises, including co-locating areas of business as part of its work on its integrated production model. This reduces the impact on the environment as smaller premises require less energy. We are also assessing and reducing our energy use with the help of new technology. Examples of technical solutions include motion-sensitive lighting, LED lights, and quick-closing gates.
During 2018, we replaced the direct acting electrical heating in one of PostNord’s major terminals with a heat pump system and put into operation two new terminals that meet GreenBuilding requirements. We also embarked on a project which involves individual electric meters being connected to the cloud. All data will be collected on a new portal, giving us a better picture of our energy use.
More trains, fewer planes
Transportation by air represents 3 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. New legislation allowing us to deliver letters in two days instead of one enables us to reduce our use of air distribution. This change meant that emissions from planes reduced by 26 percent during 2018.
In Sweden, PostNord’s major sorting terminals are linked to the railway network and 66 percent of letter volume is moved between the terminals by train. In Norway, most parcel and pallet volume is carried by rail.
More electric vehicles
PostNord’s aim is to electrify its transportation methods as far as possible. Around 28 percent of PostNord’s fleet is electric vehicles, mainly electric bicycles, tricycles, and small cars.
During 2018, PostNord bought 355 new, small electric cars and additional electric bicycles. The company continued to support the development of an electrified road between Arlanda airport and its Rosersberg terminal, where an electric rail in the road can power and charge a fully electric lorry.
More biofuels
PostNord is working to increase the proportion of renewable biofuels it uses without using palm oil or residual products from palm oil. The proportion of renewable fuel used in PostNord’s own and procured transportation services increased from around 22 to 26 percent in 2018.
Another way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles is use of eco-driving techniques. All PostNord’s drivers have access to training in eco driving. During 2018, all vehicles in Sweden were provided with information on eco driving to make things even easier for drivers.