Making circular happen

We are minimising our use of materials, especially virgin and raw resources, to reduce waste generated by our operations. Operational products are used in our delivery network to collect, convey and distribute mail, which can often be replaced or improved to increase their sustainability and reduce waste.

  • Having achieved a 27% reduction in waste ahead of our 25% target by 2030, we are working to maintain efficiencies created by cardboard parcel containment, the use of pallets and, to a lesser extent, mailbag ties and elastic bands.
  • We are exploring avenues to eliminate raw materials, increase recycled content and promote circular solutions.
  • We recognise the need to offer our customers circular solutions and facilitate the adoption of rental and return business models.

Our Steps to zero journey

1. Zero-emission deliveries

Net zero deliveries

2. Zero-emission operations

Net zero operations

4. Collaborating for action

Collaborating for action

 
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.