Sustainability strategy 2014 – 16

Improve CO₂ efficiency by at least 10 percent by the end of 2016

With its sustainability strategy for 2014 –16, Swiss Post is aiming to achieve an increase in CO₂ efficiency of at least 10 percent by the end of 2016. Education, health and procurement are now being integrated into the strategy and the corresponding implementation measures developed.

Climate protection and energy are again top priorities in the sustainability strategy for 2014 – 16. “Our business activities remain energy intensive. At the same time, we need to deal with the risks of rising energy prices and increasing regulation”, says Ronny Kaufmann, Head of Public Affairs & Corporate Responsibility, explaining the continuity of the strategy. “We intend to continue leading by example with regard to the goals of the Confederation's Energy Strategy 2050.” Swiss Post's social commitment has now also been integrated into the sustainability strategy.

Informative: the CO₂ efficiency index

Swiss Post is aiming to improve its CO₂ efficiency by at least 10 percent by 2016 (base year 2010). This Group target is no longer defined in terms of emissions per year in tonnes, but instead in relation to the core services provided by each of the units: Swiss Post is looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for every consignment transported, every passenger carried, every transaction, and every heated square metre in its buildings. “Despite our CO₂ efficiency target, greenhouse gas emissions are likely to rise in absolute terms by 2016 because of the expected performance of the company”, explains Anne Wolf. “To give an example: if more people travel with Postbuses, there will be more buses on the road, and, in turn, more emissions. But Swiss Post's goal is not that fewer people travel by Postbuses, but that they do so as energy-efficiently as possible.”

Sustainability: planned and implemented consistently

Swiss Post is consistently implementing its sustainability strategy, from planning to implementation and controlling. It is working to further reduce its energy needs by exploiting potential economic and ecological efficiencies and investing in the best available technologies. This includes the purchase of modern, energy-efficient vehicles. The share of renewable energy used for fuel, heating buildings and electricity is being increased. Swiss Post plans to continue improving internal awareness of and expertise in sustainability. The success of the training provided in eco-driving is checked by on-board units that analyse journey data. Swiss Post will also continue to champion climate protection issues outside the Group, communicate its activities, and strengthen its position in the market and among the public as a company that does business responsibly. This is reinforced by the company's accession to the UN Global Compact at the beginning of 2014.

Social commitment to continue

Swiss Post is integrating its existing social commitment into the sustainability strategy and increasing the number of measures designed to reinforce the company's attractiveness as an employer and to boost its competitiveness. With measures in basic and advanced training, health management and sustainable procurement, the first social issues are being integrated into the sustainability strategy. The selection of issues is based on a materiality analysis carried out using the results of internal and external surveys of the stakeholders.

Within basic and advanced training, Swiss Post intends to keep the proportion of trainees at 5 percent (base year 2012) and continue to employ more than 2,000 apprentices. In health management, it wants to see the number of occupational accidents reduced by at least 3 percent (base year 2013). To achieve this, it is introducing an operating group solution and implementing it in cooperation with the units. Swiss Post also continues to advocate socially acceptable working conditions and environmental measures at its suppliers across the entire supply chain. To do this, Swiss Post is introducing sustainability criteria for procurement. Membership of the Fair Wear Foundation will continue.

Sustainability strategy (PDF)