DPDgroup is planning to boost its use of electric vans, bikes and on foot deliveries for the first and final mile to 85% and shift 50% of its linehaul operations to either alternatively fuelled vehicles or to trains by 2035.

The plans are unveiled today (11 July) in the group's submission of its net-zero targets to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) - a global body focued on helping companies across the world halve their emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.

It is a collaboration between Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments.

DPDgroup and GeoPost’s submission contains both a near-term 2030 decarbonization plan and an ambitious long-term 2040 net-zero target for approval by SBTi - the company will also neutralise all residual emissions (around 10%) through relevant offsetting projects from 2040 onwards and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 43% by 2030 and 90% by 2040 from a 2020 baseline– 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

The group said the move demonstrates its ambition to lead on net-zero emissions in the European parcel delivery market. Yves Delmas, chief executive officer of GeoPost/DPDgroup, added: “At DPDgroup, we are strongly committed to energy transition, in line with our leading role in the business of e-commerce and delivery solutions.

“Today, we resolutely accelerate on our decarbonization pathway and commit to a more ambitious level of action. Our goal is to play a pivotal role for our customers and support them in developing an ever-more virtuous business model. It is a huge step, but I am confident we can achieve it, as our teams are fully engaged to drive change and meet the highest challenge of our times.”

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To achieve net-zero by 2040, the group will be focusing on electrifying the first and last mile delivery fleet by increasing its fleet of electric vans, cargo bikes and boosting on foot deliveries to 85% by 2030 and by 100% in 2035.

It will also diversifying its linehaul fleet to include alternative powertrain technologies such as biogas, biofuel, electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, as well as shifting more parcels to rail to increase the share of alternative linehaul transport solutions to 50% by 2030 and to 100% in 2040.

The group will also switch to renewable energy to power logistics sites and offices and driving towards more energy efficiency, with the objective of using 70% of energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% in 2035.

It will also electrify the fleet of company cars and on-site freight by increasing the share of electric vehicles to 90% by 2030 and by 100% in 2035. The group said: “This net zero target covers our 20 largest business units in Europe. It is aligned with the most ambitious GHG emissions reduction pathway to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C versus preindustrial levels.

GeoPost/DPDgroup expects to have its decarbonization trajectory validated by SBTi by Q1 2023.

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