Sustainability
The largest logistics company with quantifiable climate protection target
The Group’s GoGreen programme was developed to establish a systematic approach to achieving our climate protection target. We aim to reduce our carbon footprint for every letter posted, every container shipped and every square metre of warehouse space used by 30% below 2007 levels by the year 2020. As the largest global logistics company, this target makes us the first major company in our industry to set a quantifiable target that includes emissions from outsourced transport services. As an interim target, we are striving to improve our carbon efficiency by 10% by the year 2012.
We determine and calculate our greenhouse gas emissions using a carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring process based on the internationally recognised standard Greenhouse Gas (GhG) Protocol. For 2007, CO2 emissions resulting directly from our own sources and indirectly from purchased energy amounted to some eight million tonnes ( previous year: 7.4 million tonnes). CO2 emissions from outsourced transport services were calculated for the first time and were estimated to be around 23 million tonnes.
GoGreen programme’s four measures
How are we to achieve the climate protection target?
- By using energy-efficient processes and technologies. Our fleet is regularly renewed and replaced by modern, fuel-efficient vehicles and aircraft. Where possible, transport and loads are bundled, routes planned and networks optimised. We are increasingly using power, from renewable sources.
- With employees who are environmentally conscious. Employees receive more information and are better trained to lead environmentally friendly lives both at work and at home.
- With climate-neutral products. GoGreen items are climate-neutral because the emissions caused by their transport are offset by climate protection measures, such as solar or hydroelectric plants. Indeed these products have found success in the marketplace; in July 2008, Allianz Deutschland AG switched more than 140 million letters a year to GoGreen.
- By using standardised systems. We will set up a carbon accounting system as a fundamental basis for measuring the progress of our sustainability strategy. This system will consolidate CO2-relevant information, such as energy and fuel consumption, and the related performance data of the business units, such as shipment volumes and transport services, and present them in a Carbon Efficiency Index. Furthermore, around 40% (previous year: 35%) of our employees now work with environmental management systems audited in accordance with ISO 14001. We developed the underlying concept ourselves in a six-stage plan.
