The UK’s greenest parcel operator*
Royal Mail is the UK’s greenest* delivery option for letters and parcels. Our posties walk up to a billion steps a day and just over half of our delivery routes are either purely or largely on foot. But we want to go even further to reduce emissions and improve air quality. That’s why:
- We operate the UK’s largest electric van delivery fleet with around 5,000 electric vans.
- We have deployed 10 million of litres of biofuels in our fleet of heavier trucks.
- We purchase 100% renewable electricity across our entire estate.
- We are significantly reducing our use of domestic air transport in favour of lower emission alternatives.
*Based on average gCO2e emissions per parcel delivered by UK parcel operators, as published by Citizens Advice 2023 Parcels League Table.
electric vans deployed
reduction in CO2 emissions against our base year (2020/21)
gCO2e per parcel (lowest reported per parcel of any UK delivery company)
We aim to reduce our operation emissions such as in our distribution networks and our buildings.
We are committed to minimising our use of materials, especially virgin and raw resources, to reduce waste.
Our ‘feet on the street’ delivery model significantly contributes towards lowering our delivery emissions, but we want to go further.
We are laying the foundations to deliver on our Scope 3 targets in 2030 and 2040.
How Royal Mail are delivering a sustainable future
We continue to deliver on our Steps to Zero strategy to maintain our position as the UK’s greenest delivery option* for letters and parcels, while recognising the need to go further and faster in our mission to decarbonise our business and drive wider change.
We are working hard to reduce the emissions of our operations and supply chain. Building on our network of on-foot deliveries, we are rolling out electric vans, deploying biofuels in our trucks and using renewable energy to power our buildings to help reduce our emissions even further. We are also collaborating with our suppliers and peers to reduce our Scope 3 emissions and embracing circularity to reduce waste generation and water use.
*Based on average gCO2e emissions per parcel delivered by UK parcel operators, as published by Citizens Advice 2023 Parcels League Table.
We operate the UK’s largest electric van delivery fleet, with around 5,000 electric vans.
Royal Mail is the UK’s greenest* delivery option for letters and parcels based on average gCO2e emissions per parcel delivered by UK parcel operators, as published by Citizens Advice 2023 Parcels League Table. Our ‘feet on the street’ delivery model is unique to Royal Mail and significantly contributes to keeping our emissions low compared to those of other operators. Maintaining and enhancing this model is an important part of our zero-emission deliveries strategy.
Please take a look at our ESG Report 2023-24pdf, 9.36 MB.