Australia Post has launched a new sustainability framework outlining targets to reduce carbon emissions and increase circular use of materials across its transportation network, facilities and operations by 2030.
The company said the framework builds on progress made since FY 2019 – it has achieved a 20% reduction in emissions and a 39% decrease in waste sent to landfill since then.
Under the new plan, Australia Post aims to address emissions from its transportation network, which represents the largest share of its carbon footprint. The targets form part of the organization’s longer-term goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
The framework includes four key emissions and energy targets by 2030. Australia Post plans to achieve an additional 8% reduction in Scope 1 emissions from a 2025 baseline, primarily through further electrification of its delivery fleet, including electric delivery vehicles and trucks, and increased use of lower-carbon fuels.
The organization also plans to expand installed solar capacity across its sites from 14MW to 30MW and maintain 100% renewable-matched electricity consumption, and aims to keep Scope 3 emissions at 2025 levels through to 2030, despite expected growth in parcel volumes, by working with suppliers, contractors and air freight partners to reduce transportation-related emissions.
The company also aims to continue integrating lower-emission vehicles, renewable energy and route optimization across its logistics network.
Alongside emissions reductions, the framework sets new targets related to circular resource use. These include a further 30% reduction in waste sent to landfill from a 2025 baseline and increasing waste diversion from landfill to 80%.
Richard Pittard, chief sustainability officer at Australia Post, said the plan focuses on changes to core infrastructure and operations.
“This is about upgrading Australia Post for the future. We’re moving beyond incremental improvements to focus on the structural changes that will have the greatest impact, particularly across transport, energy and resource use,” Pittard said.
“Reducing emissions in a network as large and complex as ours is not simple. It requires electrification, low-carbon fuels, renewable energy and smarter logistics but just as importantly, it requires partnership across our supply chain.”
He added that the company is also looking at how its national network could help support a broader circular economy.
Australia Post said progress toward the targets will be reported annually, with metrics including emissions levels, renewable energy use, solar capacity, landfill waste and recycling rates.
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