Australia Post announces net zero target

Australia Post has launched its 2025 Sustainability Roadmap, formally supporting the Australian Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.

In doing so, Australia Post has become the first Commonwealth Government Business Enterprise to target Net Zero emissions by 2050.

Australia Post will be undertaking a comprehensive range of initiatives to reduce Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

Australia Post boasts Australia’s largest fleet of electric delivery vehicles and the Roadmap outlines a range of targets to deliver a sustainable future that benefits all Australians.

These include targeting Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050; reducing emissions by 15 per cent by 2025 (FY19 baseline);sourcing 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025; 100 per cent ‘fully sustainable’ packaging range aligned to the 2025 National Packaging Targets by 2025; decreasing waste to landfill by 20 per cent (FY19 baseline) by 2025; and spending $100 million with social enterprise and Indigenous suppliers by 2025.

The Roadmap outlines a science-based approach that aligns with the aims of the UN Paris Agreement and includes a 2025 emissions reduction target validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative in 2021.

The initiative to target Net Zero emissions by 2050 involves investment in renewables and our electric fleet. The Roadmap identifies opportunities for collaboration and innovation across the supply chain, including crucial initiatives to invest in sustainable aviation fuel.

Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Paul Graham said the Roadmap will build on the strong results Australia Post has already achieved in reducing the carbon intensity of operations.

“I am incredibly proud of our sustainability credentials,” Graham said.

“Over the past few years, we have seen unprecedented growth in our parcels business because of the pandemic. Although, as our revenue has climbed, our carbon intensity has dropped,” he said.

“In fact, the carbon emissions per parcel associated with sending the average domestic parcel via Parcel Post halved between FY18 and FY21.”

“That’s a great start but we still have a long way to go, and I am delighted to announce Australia Post will target Net Zero by 2050 as part of our 2025 Sustainability Roadmap launched today. This plan will guide Australia Post in the next phase of our sustainability journey as it becomes even more critical to accelerate our decarbonisation.”

“We hope as Australia’s longest running business, with one of the country’s largest and most diverse workforces, that our transformation can inspire other organisations to follow suit. If we can do it, so can you.”

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, welcomed Australia Post’s initiative to target Net Zero after the Federal Government’s landmark Climate Change Bill passed through Parliament earlier in September.

“Australia is serious about reducing emissions and it is fantastic to see Australia Post, one of the oldest and most established institutions in the country, supporting our Net Zero ambitions.”

A snapshot of Australia Post’s impact in numbers

– Since FY19 Australia Post’s revenue grew by 28% while carbon intensity for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 combined reduced by 21%. In particular, in FY22 Australia Post revenue grew by 8.5% while carbon intensity for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 combined reduced by 4%.

– Between FY18 and FY21 the carbon intensity for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 combined per parcel associated with sending the average:

– domestic parcel via Parcel Post reduced by 51%;

– domestic parcel via Express Post reduced by 35%; and

– international parcel reduced by 16%.

– Australia Post has increased its fleet of electric delivery vehicles to 4,635, making it the largest electric delivery vehicle fleet in Australia.

– Australia Post’s fleet of electric delivery vehicles covers more than 28 million kilometres each year – that’s more than twice the distance of Earth’s circumference every delivery day.

Source: Australia Post newsroom