September 18, 2025.– 22 posts worldwide take part today in the 7th Green Postal Day, celebrating the contribution of the international postal sector to the fight against climate change.

As key players in the transport and logistics sector, postal operators worldwide started to work together in 2008 by launching the Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS) and then in 2019 the Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS). Since the beginning of their cooperation, so far, posts have reduced their overall collective CO2 emissions by more than 31 million tonnes[1], which is equivalent to the carbon saved annually by 31 million solar panels.

Posts have cut down their annual emissions by 40% compared to the 2008 baseline and by 17% on 2019 baseline [2] and are committed to reach a 50% reduction by 2030.

Currently, 32% of the postal fleet is now composed of alternative-fuel vehicles, of which 26% are electric[3]. Hence, posts have reached their 2030 target regarding the electrification of their fleet, five years ahead. About 36% of the electricity used in postal facilities is sourced from renewable energy [4]. 

The emissions savings made by the posts are equivalent to:

• The emissions saved by 31m solar panels a year [5], generating enough energy for four million average European homes annually, or nearly 3.5% of the total annual electricity consumption of Germany [6]
• Taking approximately 6.7 million average cars off the road for a year [7].
• The carbon emissions saved by 11,373 onshore wind turbines in one year [8].

The sustainable use of resources has always been a key priority for the postal sector to reduce its environmental impact. The focus is both to ensure that electricity used in postal facilities is sourced from renewable energy and to progressively replace the 600,000 vehicle-postal fleet by alternative fuel vehicles. Through measuring performance in this area, posts are actively contributing to the aims of UN SDG 9 – ‘Industry, innovation and infrastructure.’

While posts first focused on reducing their CO₂ emissions of last-mile delivery by increasing the number of alternative delivery vehicles, postal attention is now shifting also to long-haul transport. Decarbonising long haul transport will be increasingly crucial to reduce the environmental impact of the sector. Posts are increasingly including electrical vans and trucks in their fleet. Alternative-fuel air freight is also increasingly piloted. Postal efforts also include a more efficient loading and road planning of trucks to reduce the environmental footprint.

Posts aim to further reduce the 1.57 million tonnes of scope 2 emissions produced from buildings annually. Growing the share of renewable electricity will be crucial to meeting the postal 2030 targets in reducing the carbon intensity of postal operations. This will also include posts generating their own renewable electricity: Solar Energy is being adopted by some posts, and the rate of adoption is expected to increase in the coming years.

2030 targets:

• Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction of 50% from the 2019 baseline of 6,014,000 tonnes
• Energy use in own buildings from renewable sources of 75%
• Vehicle fleet comprising at least 50% alternative fuel vehicles, with at least 25% of the total fleet to be electric vehicles
• 50% sustainable packaging
• 75% diversion of waste from landfill to either recycling or reuse

 Correos at the Forefront of International Postal Sector Sustainability

Correos is making a significant contribution to the collective sustainability goals of the global postal sector, taking a leading role in several areas where the public company is already well ahead.

For example, with the latest additions of electric motorcycles and vans, Correos is consolidating its position as one of the largest “zero-emissions” and ECO fleets in Spain’s distribution sector. By the end of 2025, it will operate more than 4,000 sustainable vehicles (electric, hybrid, and compressed natural gas), representing nearly 25% of its total delivery fleet. Moreover, Correos has set an even more ambitious target than the sector average: to ensure that 50% of its fleet is sustainable by 2028, as outlined in its new Strategic Plan 2024–2028.

For years, Correos has included sustainability criteria in its procurement processes for medium- and long-distance transport routes, prioritizing bids that offer ECO-labelled trailers, trucks, and vans. In doing so, Correos is driving the transition to sustainable mobility, both in last-mile delivery and long-haul transport.

Since 2018, 100% of the electricity purchased by Correos for its buildings has come from renewable sources with certified origin guarantees, avoiding the emission of more than 24,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. The company is also strongly committed to generating photovoltaic energy for self-consumption at its logistics centers. Through the Correos Solar project, the company’s largest logistics center—the CTA in Madrid—already has a high-efficiency installation of 960 solar panels, which generated 726,000 kWh of electricity in 2024. In 2025, five additional self-consumption photovoltaic plants are scheduled to become operational in Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, and Seville.

Correos has also deployed a nationwide energy management system across its offices, enabling the optimization of electricity consumption and improved operational efficiency. Currently, 571 post offices are equipped with this solution, which helps reduce energy use in lighting and climate control, achieving an annual energy savings of 1,331,000 kWh—an average reduction of more than 20% per year.

In addition, Correos has launched a Circular Economy Action Plan to advance its goal of having 100% of its logistics centers certified as “zero waste” by 2028. In 2024, 93% of Correos’ total waste was either recycled or recovered.

Correos celebrates the progress made and proudly joins the 22 postal operators around the world actively participating in this year’s Green Postal Day. These operators include: An Post (Ireland), bpost (Belgium), Correos (Spain), Croatia Post (Croatia), CTT Portugal (Portugal), DHL Group (Germany), Iceland Post (Iceland), La Poste Groupe (France), Malta Post (Malta), Omniva (Estonia), Österreichische Post (Austria), POST Luxembourg (Luxembourg), Poste Italiane (Italy), Posti (Finland), PostNL (Netherlands), Posten Bring (Norway), PostNord (Sweden), Pos Malaysia (Malaysia), Royal Mail (United Kingdom), Swiss Post (Switzerland), Thailand Post (Thailand), and USPS (United States).

[1] Since the beginning of the SMMS programme in 2008
[2] Since the beginning of the SMMS programme in 2008
[3] SMMS 2024 results
[4] SMMS 2024 results
[5] According to multiple sources, including Heatable and Renewable Energy Hub, a typical residential solar panel saves about 1 tonne of CO₂ per year. 31,000,000 tonnes of CO₂ equal to 31 million panels
[6] The Green Watt
[7] According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tonnes of CO₂ per year. 31,000,000 tonnes of CO₂ equals to r≈6.74 million cars
[8] Calculated on the basis of the average capacity of onshore wind turbines (from USGS and European Wind Energy Association); global average wind turbine capacity factor and a global average from 2024 for the CO2 intensity of electricity generation (from IEA).