On a global level, this means that its mail and parcel distribution business is neutral for the planet. On a local level, this means that it produces far less CO2 and fine particles, precisely where their concentration is the most likely to cause health problems: in urban environments [01].
However, this exemplary environmental awareness is not the whole answer. The explosion of e-commerce means that, electric vehicles or not, urban traffic congestion is rising inexorably. And since combustion engines still have the freedom of the city, this means more air and noise pollution too. Some municipalities, aware of the risks, are already restricting vehicle access to their city centres, but at the same time they need to allow everyone, business people and private individuals alike, to receive their deliveries on time. A difficult balance, but one which must be achieved. Parcel volumes will have doubled by 2025 and, if nothing is done, twice as many delivery vehicles will be travelling the streets.
Of course we would like to see fewer delivery vehicles in cities - but how? Autonomous mobile lockers are still the stuff of science fiction (see article), and until they arrive La Poste is trying to reduce the number of delivery rounds by motorised four-wheeled vehicles. While continuing to optimise rounds as every logistics business should, it has three further actions in place to achieve this: pooling loads, increasing the proportion of deliveries in soft mode, and reducing the number of redeliveries.