Leading parcel delivery service, CouriersPlease (CP) aims to be completely carbon neutral across all areas of the business by 2025, beginning with offsetting 100% of its operational emissions including waste, energy use, staff travel and flights.
CP has already taken pro-active steps including LowCO2 Certification to take the equivalent of 241 cars off the road since June this year and is now calling on the rest of the industry to set a target to reduce carbon emissions.
Australia’s transport emissions account for 19% of the country’s overall carbon emissions – a higher rate than the world-combined transport emissions figure of 15%, according to a recent quarterly report from the department of industry, science, energy and resources.
CP received its LowCO2 Certification from Australia’s most reliable and experienced carbon consulting company, The Carbon Reduction Institute (CRI). It is a certification standard for organisations that want to reduce their carbon emissions over time, by setting annual CO2 reduction targets to reduce its carbon footprint across all areas of its business.
Since 1 July, CP has, and will continue to, offset 10% of emissions related to last-mile deliveries performed by their franchisees, which is in addition to offsetting its operational emissions. By June 2021, CP will have prevented offset emissions equivalent to not burning 1546 tonnes of coal, 1.7 million litres of petrol, nearly 14 million kilometres off the road, and 540 laps around the Australian coastline.
CP chief commercial officer, Paul Roper said CP is committed to becoming a carbon-neutral carrier and lead by example in the industry and the business sector.
“We are low CO2 certified, and have commenced offsetting all operational emissions in an approved Certified Carbon Standard Project, the world’s most widely used program for voluntary emissions reduction,” he said.
“In addition, as part of our climate change action and overarching environmental strategy to be a carbon-neutral carrier, we are working with CRI to become completely carbon neutral across the rest of the business in the next five years. We are adopting green procurement, whereby our purchase decisions will be based on reviewing the entire lifecycle of goods and services – taking into account environmental and social risks, benefits and implications – over a decision based on upfront costs. As a result, we will see benefits including more efficient and effective use of natural resources, and a reduction in the harmful impact of pollution and waste.
“Sustainability is becoming important to consumers, and online retailers are becoming conscious of the need to work with eco-friendly shipping and fulfilment partners who share the same values. We all have a role to play in a greener future, and this starts with businesses understanding what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint.”
CP is in the middle of a 12-month discovery phase of its delivery app, CPGo, which helps franchisees define the quickest calculated route to take before they commence their run in an optimised pickup and delivery sequence. Over time, their vehicles will also adopt new technologies and emission-savings tools to minimise emissions further.