Paket24 Uses the Largest Number of Electric Vehicles for Delivery
At the beginning of the year, the International Post Corporation (IPC) published its new research on cross-border e-commerce for 2023, providing a comprehensive overview of consumer expectations and habits when it comes to shopping in international online stores. The research, conducted on a sample of 32,510 participants in 41 countries, revealed a growing awareness of sustainability among consumers. For example, half of the respondents stated they are willing to wait several extra days for delivery to reduce the negative environmental impact. Consumers are implementing sustainability to varying degrees in their own lives, and therefore expect the same approach from companies, brands, and the industry in general.
In the context of postal operators, users expect deliveries to be “greener” and for a greater part of the logistics process to be sustainable. Climate-neutral operations are a long-term goal of Croatian Post, and to achieve this, they have already taken significant steps in that direction. Last year, they expanded their “green” fleet to 423 electric vehicles, making it the largest such fleet in Croatia. Croatian Post has also developed its own network of charging stations for electric vehicles, located at sorting and delivery centers as well as business facilities. More than 75 charging stations have been installed in 18 cities, from Osijek to Dubrovnik, providing the necessary infrastructure for expanding the electric vehicle fleet across Croatia. Thanks to electric vehicles, bicycles, and deliveries in pedestrian zones, postal workers covered five million green kilometers last year, saving the company over 870 tons of CO2.
Another “green” cornerstone is parcel lockers, the postal service’s contactless delivery channel. Parcel lockers are crucial in the context of sustainable operations because their use reduces CO2 emissions by increasing the percentage of successful first-attempt deliveries, and delivery vehicles need to visit fewer locations. Today, 300 parcel lockers are available across Croatia, including on some islands like Korčula, Hvar, Brač, Vis, Pag, Vir, and Krk. They are located in high-traffic and easily accessible locations. Available every day of the week, 24 hours a day, users can contactlessly pick up and send their packages at their convenience, and they can also return goods purchased in online stores via parcel lockers.
Croatian Post is reducing energy consumption by investing in renewable energy sources and energy-efficient buildings. The largest capital investment in the history of Croatian Post is the National Warehouse and Sorting Center in Velika Gorica, where around 1,700 employees work. This complex is an example of a modern logistics center built in accordance with strict energy efficiency requirements, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Croatian Post has further affirmed its commitment to sustainable operations by joining international initiatives with concrete and measurable goals. As signatories of The Climate Pledge, they have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the target set by the Paris Agreement. By joining The Science Based Targets initiative, they have committed to setting short-term goals to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Content provided by the Croatian post