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The colors of the Austrian Post are gently transitioning from yellow to yellow/green. Sustainability is not just a colorful touch for the postal service provider; it is also actively practiced. The fleet is gradually being replaced with electric mobility and other alternative drives, and energy optimization is also a focus for the buildings. The big goal is emission-free delivery by 2030. This goal was already achieved in Graz in 2021.
(Wien) The Austrian Post is not completely changing from the typical yellow of the post to green, but slowly the green color is becoming a fixed visual component on the postal vehicles. However, it is not just about appearance; green logistics, meaning sustainability, is actively lived and implemented at the Austrian Post. Matthias Hofmann, responsible for Strategic Network Planning & Management at the Austrian Post, explains: “As a large, state-affiliated company, we also serve as a role model for the economy and the population. We began to engage intensively with this topic very early on, in 2011.”
The Austrian Post’s websites provide detailed descriptions of what they are doing for sustainability. This starts with the delivery vehicles, which are gradually being converted to electric mobility. Wherever possible, buildings are equipped with photovoltaic systems. The Post now produces 2.5 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity per year. For additional needs, they exclusively source green electricity from Austria. Solar panels have also been installed on larger trucks. The building environments are being equipped with green space concepts, creating more habitats for animals and plants.
The Post is also considering sustainable packaging solutions and delivery methods. Even the retired uniforms of postal employees are included in the concept. Textile designer Lisa Klingersberger has developed ideas for new clothing and utility items from the retired uniforms of the 12,000 postal employees in a workshop. Implementation is currently in progress.
The city of Graz is already completely green on the postal side
By 2030, the Austrian Post aims to deliver completely emission-free throughout Austria. In Graz, this has already been achieved since last year. Delivery for the Mur metropolis is carried out from a delivery base at Graz main station as well as directly from the logistics center Styria in Kalsdorf. Over 200 electric vehicles are now in operation, all powered CO2-free with green electricity. In September 2020, the Graz station delivery base was equipped with 65 electric cars, 15 electric mopeds, 52 electric bikes, and the necessary charging infrastructure. In September 2021, the second phase followed: the delivery base in Kalsdorf received 70 electric vehicles – for the first time also large electric transporters for parcel delivery – along with the necessary charging infrastructure. A new smart software controls the performance of the charging stations and ensures that all electric cars are fully charged again the next morning.
As part of the “Green Graz” project, a project with a central city hub at Andreas-Hofer-Platz was established last year. A system that thinks one step further: thanks to the city hub, parcel deliverers no longer have to drive back and forth between the logistics center Styria in Kalsdorf and the city of Graz, but start and end their workday in downtown Graz. This not only eliminates CO2 and noise emissions but also reduces unnecessary empty trips, optimizes delivery routes, and thus alleviates urban traffic overall.
Celebrating the completely CO2-free delivery in Graz: (l. to r.) DI Peter Umundum, Executive Director Parcel & Logistics, Austrian Post, Dr. Margarete Schramböck, former Federal Minister for Digitalization and Economic Location, Mag. Judith Schwentner, Environmental Councilor City of Graz, and Hermann Schützenhöfer, Governor of Styria
The next step includes large vehicles
After Graz, other cities and regions in Austria will gradually become emission-free. In Linz, more than half of the fleet is already operated electrically. Next in line are Vienna, where they are tackling district by district, and Salzburg.
At the same time, the Post is also dealing with large vehicles, including vehicles with swap bodies used in hub traffic (from depot to depot). For these vehicles, they are exploring all options for alternative drives available. Paul Janacek, Head of Group Fleet at the Austrian Post, states: “Next year we will acquire our first hydrogen truck. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) or synthetic fuel is also a topic. The challenge with these topics is primarily procurement. In addition to the often significantly higher purchase price and uncertainty about what will prevail, there is also not the necessary number of vehicles available for purchase that we would need for our requirements.”
By the way, the shortage also affects the smaller electric delivery vans for delivery. “Here we need to act proactively and monitor the market closely. If we are not careful, we will face a supply bottleneck in Q1/2024,” Janacek further explains.
LNG trucks of the Austrian Post in front of the logistics center in Vienna-Inzersdorf
The overall concept also includes subcontractors who drive for the Austrian Post. Matthias Hofmann: “We offer our support to subcontractors in procuring vehicles. Since we have been intensively dealing with the topic of sustainability and emission-free vehicles for a long time, we can pass on our extensive knowledge.”
Winner of the Eco Performance Award in the Large Company Category
Recently, the Austrian Post was rewarded for its sustainability efforts and was awarded the Eco Performance Award in the large company category. The decisive factor for the victory was the overall concept.
Matthias Hofmann (left) and Paul Janacek proudly present the awards of the Eco Performance Award.
About the Austrian Post
The Austrian Post is an internationally active postal, logistics, and service group of outstanding importance for Austria. The company stands for the highest quality and offers a comprehensive product and service portfolio to meet current customer needs.
The Post consolidates its business activities into three divisions: Mail & Advertising Mail, Parcel & Logistics, and Branch & Bank. Internationally, the Post is selectively present in the markets of Germany, seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe, and Turkey.
Photos: © Austrian Post
Matthias Hofmann, has been Executive Vice President/Strategic Network Planning & Management at Austrian Post AG since 2020. He has been with the company in various positions since 2015.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthias-hofmann-at/
Paul Janacek, has been Vice President/Head Group Fleet at Austrian Post AG since March 2019 and has been with the company in various positions since November 2015.
