Problematic parcel delivery

Last mile - a phrase used in the logistics and forwarding industry. This is an important issue because it is actually the final stage in the parcel delivery process. This is the phase in which the parcel expected by the recipient leaves the warehouse to reach the indicated address. According to the average obtained from 7 studies conducted by B. De Maere, from 20% to 25% of deliveries to the so-called Unfortunately, the house ends in failure. Parcels that are not received by the recipient are sent to the collection point or another delivery attempt is made. This, of course, generates the need to travel the same route again, and often even longer. It is possible to determine the time frame within which the courier will deliver the shipment, but this is not an ideal solution, because the courier is forced to travel a longer distance than the one that was optimally planned, and this ultimately results in an increase in pollutant emissions. Another problem is the fact that many couriers travel without a fully loaded vehicle. This also generates CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions, as well as noise. It is estimated that the carbon footprint would decrease by 75% if the classic delivery method was replaced with deliveries to automatic transmission machines. The change in CO2 emissions would then be reduced by at least 0.35 kg.

Mail transfers and home delivery

A much better solution for our planet is the possibility of delivering parcels to parcel lockers. The main argument that can be seen at first glance is the fact that a courier who delivers parcels to this type of machines is able to deliver at least 1,000 parcels within eight working hours. Compared to "home" deliveries, which a courier can make around 75 at the same time, this number is staggering. CO2 emissions generated by one parcel drop dramatically and can be up to twenty times lower, precisely due to the lack of re-delivery. This results in improved efficiency when considering the overall delivery process in relation to the last mile. When comparing the energy efficiency of home deliveries with those to delivery machines, it can be seen that the daily number of kilometers traveled is twice as low in the case of deliveries to delivery machines. Fuel consumption per package can also be several dozen times lower. This is an undoubted benefit for the environment. These data may, of course, vary when comparing areas with different population densities. Emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are higher in areas with lower urban density. In 2018, research was carried out which shows that delivering a parcel by courier to your home produces on average from 181 g to 1,387 g of CO2. Looking at the research, it should be assumed that the result of 300 g of CO2 per package is the most reliable. The process of delivering parcels to vending machines turned out to be less emissive in each study, although the result here depends on the distance of the vending machine from the recipient's place of residence. An extensive network of parcel collection machines is the best solution to reduce negative emissions, and is therefore the most friendly to our planet. The Green Generation report states that 62% of people collect parcels on the so-called "occasion" - i.e. when returning from work, university, shopping or walking the dog. Eighteen percent of recipients intentionally go to the post office to pick up their package after being notified that it has been delivered. Picking up a shipment "by the way" can reduce pollution by 83%. The thesis of lower emission is confirmed by the case of Austria and Finland, where it was proven that the use of automatic parcel collection machines actually reduced the adverse effects on the ecosystem. The national postal operator in Finland has shown that consumers who buy online and use automatic machines are able to reduce their carbon footprint by 70%. Cooperation of the trade and logistics industry with the public sector in the design of urban space in terms of the location of postal facilities would result in affirmative impacts on the environment. In addition to the benefits for the planet resulting from this cooperation, the local trade sector would also benefit, as walking and cycling traffic would generate demand for services and goods offered in the vicinity of these facilities. Optimal placement of shipping machines would make returns much easier, and this would also positively contribute to CO2 reduction. An additional issue may be to combine the desire to care for the environment with the idea of CPTED - i.e. crime prevention through environmental space planning. Places where vending machines would be placed (near public places) would result in a reduction in pejorative behavior in society.

Conscious consumers

As we can learn from the Green Generation 2020 report, as many as 76% of buyers believe that purchasing products with delivery to the device where they can collect them is more ecological than using courier services. For people making purchases using smartphone applications, this percentage increases to 79%. Locating delivery machines in close proximity to communication arteries, stations and stops may actually translate into the choice of alternative means of transport, i.e. reducing the emission of harmful substances into the environment. According to many people, delivering small-sized parcels in historic areas of cities is unjustified and the choice of a parcel locker is becoming an everyday occurrence. The most optimal places where postal devices should be installed are residential estates, gas stations, transfer hubs and business centers. A large number of parcel machines for city logistics may be an impulse to change means of transport to more ecological ones. Delivering parcels using electric vehicles is, according to recipients, the best means of balanced logistics. Delivering the package once to the device and not to your home saves approximately 250 g of CO2. In 2018, 476 million parcels were delivered to Poles, of which 86 million were sent to parcel machines. Every additional one percent of parcels placed in parcel collection machines allows us to avoid CO2 emissions by over 1,000 tons. For plasticity purposes, this is as much as can be absorbed by a forest with an area of 60 ha. So it's probably worth taking care of the environment?!

Modern post office – Poczta 2.0 cares about the environment

The latest product of the Polish Postal Group and Świat Przesyłek, i.e. Modern Post - Poczta 2.0, is an innovative device that was missing on the market. Innovative because it was designed to take care of the environment with its functionality. The principle of operation of Modern Post is based on the use of replaceable magazines and reusable trays inside. This contributes to a significant reduction in materials used in the production of packaging. The solution based on the use of replaceable ABS granulate trays allows customers to send various types of products without the use of additional packaging such as cardboard, stretch foil or tape. Getting rid of unnecessary additions to shipments will noticeably improve the care of our planet, as no more plastic will be generated, which, as we know, decomposes over many years, thus destroying the Earth's ecosystem.

Take care of the environment today

It should be in the interest of every entity operating on any market to develop the best possible schemes that, in addition to economic profits, will translate into a real improvement in the situation in nature. Polska Grupa Pocztowa and Świat Przesyłek, taking care of the environment, has and will implement activities that are in harmony with the ecosystem.