08-11-2015

International Post Corporation is delighted to announce that the EMMS participants have collectively reached the programme’s 2020 targets of 20% CO2 reduction compared to the 2008 baseline six years ahead of schedule.
  • IPC Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System (EMMS) programme reached its 2020 target of achieving a 20% reduction in participants’ own emissions in 2014
  • Continued strong improvements in Carbon Management Proficiency (CMP)

Brussels, 09 November 2015 – International Post Corporation is delighted to announce that the EMMS participants have collectively reached the programme’s 2020 targets of 20% CO2 reduction compared to the 2008 baseline six years ahead of schedule.

At the 15th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) in Copenhagen (Denmark), CEOs from 20 global postal operators committed to working together in order to collectively reduce the group’s carbon emissions by 20% by 2020 and to improve Carbon Management proficiency to 90%. In 2014, six years earlier than anticipated, the group, which in the meantime expanded its reach and scope, reached the first programme milestone of reducing carbon emissions by 20%.

Herbert-Michael Zapf, President and CEO of IPC says: “Meeting our 20% emissions reduction target six years early demonstrates the commitment, motivation, and strong leadership that the EMMS participants have maintained throughout the programme. We are very proud of announcing this  great achievement just before COP21 in Paris, France, where world leaders will meet with the aim of finalising a new international agreement to limit global temperature rise to below 2ºC.”

Just in its seventh year, the EMMS programme continued to make very good progress. The group’s own yearly emissions have decreased by 20.6% since 2008, from 8,879,000 tonnes to 7,050,000 tonnes. By aggregating savings since 2008, this equates to a cumulative 8,178,000 tonnes of carbon emissions that have been avoided over the entire period. Carbon Management proficiency improved to an average of 81% for the group (2008: 56%).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Zapf continues: “While these reductions are a significant achievement, it is essential to stress the importance that posts participating in the programme continue their efforts to achieve further reductions.  This will require more significant and longer-term investments, which we have already seen are highly effective. Improving energy-efficiency in buildings, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, and switching to alternative fuels for vehicles are key measures that posts are investing in. Not only do these initiatives have considerable environmental benefits, they also yield financial savings. For example, using conservative estimates the group has achieved a financial saving of €904m (US$1,199m) through reduced fuel and electricity use since the start of the programme in 2008.”

IPC published the 2015 IPC Postal Sector Sustainability Report at the occasion of its Board meeting in New York, USA. The online version of the seventh annual Postal Sector Sustainability Report can be consulted here. It also includes 17 best practice cases showcasing particularly successful environmental initiatives taken by EMMS participants. 

 

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About International Post Corporation

International Post Corporation (IPC) is the leading service provider of the global postal industry that provides leadership by driving service quality, interoperability and business-critical intelligence to support posts in defending existing business and expanding into new growth areas. It is a cooperative association of 24 member postal operators in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. IPC’s solutions and services are used by over 180 posts worldwide. Since 1989 IPC has set standards for upgrading quality and service performance and developed technological solutions that help members enhance service for international letters, packets and parcels. IPC engages in industry research, creates business-critical intelligence, provides a range of platforms and programmes for member post CEOs and senior management to exchange best practices and discuss strategy. IPC also manages the system for incentive-based payments between postal operators.

For more information, please contact
Eva Wouters
PR & Media Relations Manager
International Post Corporation
+32 2 724 71 91
[email protected]