𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗦𝗢 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀

Over the past decade, the #postal sector (including courier, express, and #parcel #delivery operators) has been very active in #addressing environmental #sustainability issues. The next generation of envelopes and cardboard will probably incorporate digitally-available #fingerprint #technology to better manage the circular economy-based use of packaging for non-food #B2C supplies. When it comes to food B2C #supplies, #reusablepackaging will become the state-of art for temperature-controlled #delivery.

Driven by both #deliveryoperators and #businesses in the postal sector, harmonized #business standards have been developed. Whenever individual B2C supplies (single parcels containing goods/merchandise) are collected (i.e., warehousing and fulfilment), consolidated for #freight and #transport (i.e., global multi-modal supply chains), received for #sortation, and dispatched for final delivery according to the preferences of the end recipient, mandatory #electronicdata elements are made available and exchanged in advance (i.e., UPU’s Global Data Model, EU’s Customs Data Model or IATA’s Preloading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI)). In order to allocate, quantify, and report the #environmentalimpact of parcel #logistics and #delivery operations at item level, these minimum electronic advanced data elements will need to be supplemented by additional #data elements. 

Since the 27th UPU Congress, held last summer, the Universal Posta Union has established its #Sustainable Postal Service Group to work with key stakeholders in defining the scope of a UPU #technicalstandard for carbon-neutral #international delivery, and to implement standards for carbon-neutral cross-border international postal services.

The #UPU standard will be based on pre-existing standards – EN 17837 (Parcel Delivery Environmental Footprint – Methodology for calculation and declaration of #GHGemissions and air pollutants of parcel logistics delivery) which aligns the #methodology for calculating and declaring GHG #emissions and air #pollutants from parcel logistics delivery #services with existing #worldwide and #European #standards (i.e., ISO/DIS 14083: Quantification and reporting of #greenhouse gas emissions arising from #transport #chainoperations; EN 16258: Methodology for calculation and #declaration of energy #consumption and GHG emissions of #transport services) – to create a uniquely harmonized postal sector #solution.

The harmonized #measurement and #reporting of #carbon and #greenhousegas (GHG) emissions across the postal sector will be supported by the UPU’s 192 Member Countries using #OSCAR, the UPU’s Online Solution for Carbon Analysis and Reporting platform for the #global postal sector.