Sustainable logistics
We’re taking responsibility
Rich Content Section
#YellowGreen – e-mobility, not emissions
We’re acting now for tomorrow
For our logistics, we have the largest fleet of electric vehicles in Switzerland. In Zurich and Bern, we deliver all letters and parcels emission-free using Swiss Post e-vehicles. We will gradually implement carbon-neutral delivery for all letters and parcels throughout Switzerland by 2030.
With targeted measures and new technologies, we are reducing our CO2 emissions in order to be carbon neutral in our own operations by 2030. This is how we are contributing to saving the environment and the future of our planet. By making carbon-neutral deliveries, we are saving around 8,200 tonnes of CO2 a year. This equates to one person making 4,100 round-trip flights between Zurich and New York.
The following information is up to date as at August 2023
What our customers say
How we’re switching to e-mobility
Switzerland-wide by the end of 2030
- With over 7,000 electric vehicles, we operate the largest electric fleet in Switzerland. It currently comprises around 6,080 electric three-wheel delivery vehicles, 640 electric four-wheel delivery vehicles and around 600 other electric vehicles.
- This enables us to deliver around 41 million parcels and all letters carbon neutrally every year. In Bern and Zurich alone, we use our electric vehicles to deliver to nearly 340,000 households in Switzerland.
- We operate the e-vehicles exclusively with “naturemade”-certified eco-electricity from Switzerland.
- In 2009, we started to replace our scooters with electric three-wheelers. Since 2017, only electric three-wheelers have been on the road for Swiss Post.
- By 2030, all 10,500 delivery vehicles will be switched to alternative drive systems.
- By the end of 2025, we will have equipped the cities of Geneva, Basel, Biel/Bienne, Lucerne, Lausanne, Lugano and Winterthur with e-vehicles and e-charging stations, in addition to the delivery points in the cities of Bern and Zurich. The remaining delivery sites will follow by 2030.
How we’re conserving resources
Savings: 8,200 tonnes of CO2 annually
An electric four-wheeler saves six tonnes of CO2 annually compared to a fossil-fuel vehicle. An electric scooter requires around six times less energy than a petrol scooter. The electrification of the fleet currently saves 8,200 tonnes of CO2 per year, which corresponds to 4,100 round-trip flights by one person between Zurich and New York. Savings will grow steadily as fossil-fuel vehicles are replaced with electric vehicles.
Recycling batteries
The manufacturer of Swiss Post’s electric three-wheelers, Kyburz Switzerland AG, uses a MultiLife concept. The company utilizes used batteries for second-life vehicles or recycles them in an innovative process. This means 95 percent of the entire battery can be reused.
Film: Sustainable logistics
Energy efficiency
Lean & Green award
Swiss Post is taking measures to achieve its climate and energy targets not only in delivery, but also in processing and internal transport.
Lean & Green
From 2016 to 2020, we were able to increase energy efficiency by over 20 percent in the parcel segment. This earned us the first of five stars from the Lean & Green initiativeTarget not accessible. The action plan comprised measures such as training in eco-driving techniques, optimized transport logistics systems and processes, procuring electric vehicles, and blending biodiesel. Swiss Post is now aiming for its second Lean & Green star.
In 2008, the Lean & Green initiative was launched in the Netherlands on behalf of the government. It is now established in 14 countries and boasts more than 500 participating companies. Alongside the results-orientated practice for CO2 measurement and reduction, one of the strengths of the initiative is the ongoing development and networking of the participants.
Sustainable energy sources
We produce and purchase sustainable energy to meet our needs.
- Since 2022, all self-operated branches have used 100 percent “naturemade star”-certified green power. Our My Post 24 terminals are also fully operated with green power.
- Our processing centers are equipped with energy-saving LED lighting. Because our outside lighting is operated with smart controls, we save on energy and help reduce light pollution.
- The solar panels on the roofs of our processing centers supply a total of 10.9 gigawatts of electricity per year. This is equivalent to the annual electricity usage of roughly 5,000 households.
- Unused green spaces around our processing centers provide valuable living space for plant and insect life. What’s more, the roof of the Zurich-Mülligen letter center is also home to a bee colony.
Road and rail
Environmentally friendly by rail
Roughly 50 percent of all letters and parcels handled by Swiss Post currently travel at least some of their distance by rail. Due to the environmental benefits of rail transport, we want to significantly expand the amount of mail that we transport by rail in the future. That’s why we started our “rail offensive”. Our goal is to considerably increase the proportion of parcels transported by rail along the east-west axis (i.e. between the major parcel centers in Frauenfeld, Härkingen and Daillens).
We are promoting the switch to alternative drive systems in the trucks used by our transport companies. Currently, Swiss Post has two trucks with an electric drive system. Its subsidiaries have a total of 12 biodiesel trucks (Stella Brandenberger), one truck with a hydrogen drive system and two trucks with electric drive systems (Bächle Logistics). By 2040, we also want to operate a completely carbon-neutral supply chain.
