CO2 emissions reductions by posts correspond to the carbon saved by 31 million solar panels a year
On 18 September 2025, 22 posts worldwide take part in the 7th Green Postal Day, celebrating the contribution of posts to address 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 tonnes1.
Holger Winklbauer, IPC CEO commented: “Since the launch of Green Postal Day, climate change has sometimes been overshadowed. Nevertheless, postal operators participating in the IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS) have maintained their focus. They have reduced annual emissions by 40% compared to 20082 and remain committed to achieving a 50% reduction by 2030”.
Furthermore, 32% of the postal fleet is now composed of alternative-fuel vehicles, of which 26% are electric2 . 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 energy3.
The emissions savings made by the posts are equivalent to:
The emissions saved by 31m solar panels a year4, generating enough energy for four million average European homes annually, or nearly 3.5% of the total annual electricity consumption of Germany5.
Taking approximately 6.7 million average cars off the road for a year6
The carbon emissions saved by 11,373 onshore wind turbines in one year7.
The sustainable use of resources has always been a key priority for the postal sector in order 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.
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 diverted from landfill to either recycling or reuse.
About Green Postal Day
The Green Postal Day is a global campaign initiated by CEOs of posts participating in the IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS) programme, aiming to highlight the sustainability commitments made by postal organisations worldwide.
About postal sector sustainability
The IPC Sustainability Measurement and Management System (SMMS) was launched in 2019 to address the sustainability objectives of the postal sector for the next ten years, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, 318 posts from America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania participate in the programme. It expands on the 2008-2019 Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS) programme, which focused on reducing carbon emissions, and broadens the remit to the seven sustainability focus areas most relevant for the postal sector:
Health and Safety,
Learning and Development,
Resource Efficiency,
Air Quality,
Circular Economy,
Sustainable Procurement and
Climate Change.
Notes:
1. Since the beginning of the SMMS programme in 20082. SMMS 2024 results3. SMMS 2024 results4. 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 panels5. The Green Watt6. 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.7. 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).8. As of January 2025