Shipping & Delivery

We use 4 main delivery services for shipping across the globe; each one is taking steps to increase their sustainability in their operations.

Royal Mail - UK standard delivery

Royal Mail have reduced their carbon emissions by 31.9%, ahead of their target for 2020/21 and being named "industry leader" by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

This has been achieved by introducing electric vehicles, or using bio-CNG fuel in a growing number of their HGVs. The majority of Royal Mail parcels (including those we send) are small enough that they can be delivered by foot; Royal Mail has over 90,000 on-foot delivery-people in their network to cut down on the need for delivery vehicles.

You can read more from Royal Mail here.

DPD - Europe & UK (next-day service)

DPD are aiming to become the "greenest delivery company on the planet" and have started numerous initiatives to bring this forward.

There are now over 700 electric vehicles in DPD's fleet throughout the UK. Whilst there are some supply and manufacturing issues in obtaining more vehicles, DPD are aiming towards a 100% electric delivery fleet in future.

DPD began "Project BREATHE" in August 2020, installing air quality sensors in London, Birmingham and Cardiff. They plan to increase this project in the coming years, with the aim of informing public health policy about air quality in our towns and cities.

The "Eco-fund" from DPD donates money generated from recycling their packaging materials to environmental projects throughout the UK. So far nearly £240,000 has been donated.

DPD are also putting a lot of focus into using sustainable energy sources such as solar for their hubs and offices, alongside a host of other measures. You can read more about DPD's strive towards sustainability here.

UPS - Europe & Australia

UPS have several long term sustainability goals that are ongoing, namely reducing their use of traditional fuels and energy sources, such as using 40% alternative fuel sources on ground operations and utilising 25% of renewable electricity in their global facilities by 2025.

By 2035 UPS aim to replace 30% of their aviation fuel with a sustainable alternative, reduce their carbon dioxide footprint by 50% per small global package and switch to 100% renewable electricity within their global facilities.

Not only are they looking to change the way they utilise energy, but UPS have also pledged to plant 50 million trees by 2030.

You can find out more about UPS's environmental and social sustainability targets here.

FedEx - North America & some European countries

Fedex are in the process of converting their entire parcel pickup and delivery fleet to zero-emission electric vehicles, with over 5000 on the roads so far replacing traditionally-fuelled vehicles. In the meantime, they are investing in alternative fuels to reduce emissions from both vehicles and aircraft.

They have also pledged $100 million to help establish the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture - where research will be undertaken on ways to remove and store Earth's excess carbon.

Visit Fedex's statement on sustainability here

DHL - Rest of the World

DHL have set goals to become a net-zero emissions company by 2050, with some interim goals also outlined for 2030:

They plan to electrify 60% of their last-mile delivery vehicles by 2030, and introduce up to 30% sustainable aviation fuel in their global forwarding operations.

All new buildings are being designed to be carbon-neutral, utilising on-site solar power generation as well as grid-based energy sources where possible. DHL are also working on carbon offsetting - compensating for their emissions through climate protection projects

More information on DHL can be found here