DPD Goes Carbon Neutral at No Cost to Customers

DPD’s carbon footprint has been calculated regularly since 2006, and the company says it’s been working to reduce its per-parcel carbon footprint through a range of initiatives.

Beginning in July DPD, will begin offsetting all emissions that it is unable to avoid with the assistance of French offset partner CDC Climat. The company expects to offset approximately 500,000 tons of carbon emissions each year for its five major markets of France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands and BeLux. 

Pierre Ducret, CEO of CDC Climat said DPD’s announcement “represents a genuine commitment to not only reduce carbon emissions in such an emission-heavy industry, but also to anticipate and enter the new low carbon economy.” 

Initiatives currently helping to reduce DPD’s carbon output include: 

• Eco-driving training for delivery drivers and the UK ‘Drive Smart’ campaign that raises awareness of Eco-driving
• Introducing the UK’s largest fleet of double-deck trailers which can hold a third more volume than a single deck vehicle
• Reducing energy consumption by measures such as sensor activated lightning and power awareness campaigns in UK.
• DPD Netherlands is introducing new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vans to its fleet in the Netherlands.
• DPD in Germany has introduced delivery bikes that can carry up to 50 parcels to residential areas of the Hamburg.
• in Germany has introduced Vito E-CELL Mercedes Benz electric vans for parcel delivery.

DPD ships about 2.5 million international parcels a day with a workforce of 24,000 and 18,000 vehicles. DPD’s major shareholder is GeoPost Group, a subsidiary of French Groupe La Poste.

DPD competitor UPS introduced a flat-rate carbon offset option for customers in 2009.

Bart King is a PR consultant and principal at Cleantech Communications.