Australia Post has announced that it has cut carbon emissions by 20% (surpassing its target of 15%) and successfully transitioned to 100% renewable electricity at operational sites, as part of the delivery of its 2025 Sustainability Roadmap.
The three-year roadmap, launched in 2022, set goals to cut emissions, shift to renewable electricity and drive more sustainable practices across Australia Post’s operations.
The company has also reportedly rolled out a varied fleet of over 5,000 electric vehicles, cut waste to landfill by 39% and increased recycling to 73%.
Part of the Sustainability Roadmap involves investing in communities. The company says it has channelled more than A$119m (US$78.5m) into social enterprise and indigenous suppliers, surpassing its A$100m (US$66m) target.
The post’s chief sustainability officer, Richard Pittard, said, “Our progress under the 2025 Sustainability Roadmap shows that meaningful change is possible when an organization commits to it. It’s a strong start and a clear demonstration of what’s possible. But we also recognize there is much more to do.
“Insights from delivering the 2025 roadmap will guide Australia Post in the next phase of our sustainability journey as it becomes even more critical to decarbonize our operations in line with available technology, embrace circularity and continue to deliver positive outcomes for our people, our communities and the planet.”
Only 44% of the packaging used by Australia Post and StarTrack (the post’s transportation and logistics company) currently meets the targets set out in the 2025 Sustainability Roadmap, and Pittard said that achieving full alignment will depend on large-scale resource recovery solutions and strong collaboration across supply chains and partners.
“We know we have more to do to reduce the impact of our packaging. We’re proud of our progress to date but recognize we have more to do. By working together, we can accelerate progress and deliver smarter, more circular solutions for customers and communities,” he added.
The next phase of Australia Post’s sustainability framework will reportedly focus on decarbonization across operations and supply chains, reducing impact through smarter packaging, waste reduction and reuse, and exploring how Australia Post can enable Australia’s circular economy for customers and communities.
In related news, Australia Post will open a multimillion-dollar facility in Queensland next year