(Illustration: Caption: DINalog #moderator Sibylle Gabler with expert Walter Trezek)

How can increasing #digitalization, #ecommerce and #parcel volumes be reconciled with the ambitious #internationalclimate goals? And what is the role of #standardization? These were the #key questions considered at the Germany parliamentary “DINalog” on 28.4.2022, with Walter Trezek invited to provide expert input.

The event was hosted by the German national standardization body, DIN, and called on members of the German #Bundestag and Federal Ministry #representatives for more active #political direction in standardization #efforts.

𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲

Walter Trezek showed that digital #retail processes are #essential in “#greening” delivery: “#Data on each and every parcel, its #content and #packaging, is collected and linked to #information about the parcel’s #acceptance, #transport, #freight, #storage, #warehousing and final delivery,” Trezek explained.

Digitalizing the #delivery #valuechain allows its #ecologicalfootprint to be measured: OSCAR, the Online Solution for Carbon Analysis and Reporting, is the Universal Postal Union (#UPU) #platform for #measuring and #reporting on the postal sector’s ecological footprint. “This interactive platform allows postal operators in UPU #membercountries to analyse and report their #GHGemissions and identify #opportunities to reduce them,” he said. The #result is the end-to-end #measurement of each #individualparcel’s ecological footprint – at local, regional, and global level.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

“Mandatory postal sector-specific #measurementstandards which identify #carbon and GHG emissions at individual parcel level turn #emissions into a #competitivefactor,” Trezek explains.  

#Standards also create a level playing field, opening the #deliverysector to any #enterprise within the delivery value chain willing to operate according to those standards. Trezek also spoke about #DINspecification currently being drafted which describes how #letters and #commercialitems can be entered into the open #deliverynetwork, calling this a flagship example of how standardization benefits #consumers. 

“#Discussions were held with all the #marketplayers to agree joint standards, and these will form the basis for a delivery network for all of #Germany,” he explained. The DIN specification will be published and be available to all, free of charge.

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱

Trezek expressed his wish for more active #politicalinput into #standardizationefforts. “The standardisation bodies are shaping the #foundations for Germany’s #economy, so that #politicaldirection and #input are #essential right from the start.”