Postal services cause greenhouse gas emissions, which are primarily caused by the transport of letters, parcels, express and courier items over short and long distances. Postal service providers face the challenge of reorganising their transport chains in such a way that they become environmentally sustainable. European and German policymakers are setting framework conditions to support and steer the transformation process. The aim of this study is to comprehensively analyse the developments towards an ecologically sustainable postal sector.
WIK-Consult and its co-operation partner Wuppertal Institute for Environment, Energy and Climate prepared the study on behalf of the Federal Network Agency. The study analyses the impact of legal requirements on sustainability and greenhouse gas accounting standards on postal service providers and competition in the postal market. Secondly, it analyses the development of environmental awareness among customers and their preferences for sustainable postal services. Thirdly, it is developing a concept for sustainability data collection by the Federal Network Agency. In future, this will have to be carried out in accordance with the Postal Law Modernisation Act, which was being drafted at the time the study was conducted.
