Royal Mail CSR Report: Simple measures lead to big savings

The Royal Mail successfully implemented simple sustainability measures across energy efficiency, water use and waste disposal, including a 19% reduction in C02 emissions compared with a 2005 baseline.


The company also reduced the amount of carbon emissions per £1 million of revenue by 5% compared with last year, thanks to savings in lighting and transport.

Presence-controlled LED lighting was installed in three key mail centres, saving 1,870 megawatt hours, while double-decker trailers helped cut 7 million miles from delivery operations.

The firm has also purchased three dual-fuel vehicles and 25 superefficient Euro VI Mercedes Sprinters in order to “understand the potential efficiencies this will bring to the business”.

During the year, the Royal Mail launched a new vehicle maintenance programme where useful engine and gearbox parts are salvaged from accident-damaged vans and re-used as spares. Between November 2013 and May 2014, this initiative saved an average of £21,000 per month

Water

The company hired external experts Waterscan, who helped reduce overall water consumption by 6%.

Initiatives included measuring the flow of water from taps in the South Midlands mail centre bathrooms, which revealed that each tap was running at the rate of 150 ml per second. Reducing the flow saved 600ml of water on every usage.

That change at one mail centre alone saved 96,720 litres of water.

For the coming year, rain flow harvesting systems will be installed at selected centres to supply urinals.

Waste

The Royal Mail achieved a 2015 target one year early, by diverting 70% of waste from landfill. This was also achieved with straightforward measures, such as 4,200 new bins and an employee education campaign.

The firm’s hard work did not go unnoticed as it was named the global leader in its industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. It was also ranked as one of the top 10 most responsible companies in the Business in the Community’s (BITC) 2014 Corporate Responsibility Index. 


Charitable impact: Infographic:

 

Royal Mail Group Corporate Responsibility Report 2014

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