NZ Post putting the welfare of kiwis first

Profiling NZ Post

The iconic company which has been part of the local landscape since 1840, is moving into the future with the welfare of Kiwis and the planet firmly front of mind.

NZ Post Group Sustainability Manager Dawn Baggaley is proud of the work they’re doing in this space.

Dawn Baggaley, NZ Post Group Sustainability Manager

Image supplied.

“We touch a lot of people right across New Zealand and making a sustainable future is the right thing to do,” she says.

“We’ve been here since the founding of this country and we need to protect our climate, environment and communities.”

Setting hefty goals to ensure a sustainable future

The Affiliated Organisation at the heart of the Marram story has set an impressive science-based goal to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The target’s been verified by an international body which says this is what NZ Post can do.

“We deliver things, so 95% of our emissions come from this area. We‘re shifting our fleet to renewable energy and aim to be 100% clean by 2025,” she says.

Many of us are already familiar with the 400 award winning electric Paxsters being used by posties to deliver mail.

50% of the courier van fleet is already running on renewable energy

NZ Post is also supporting it’s contractors with EV incentives and eco-friendly leasing options.

Dawn Baggaley says like many others, they’re experiencing supply chain issues and it's slowing down what they want to do, but the aim is to be 100% electric by 2025.

Carbon neutral packaging

“We’re aware consumers are concerned about single use plastic and waste,” she says.

Aware of the need to keep parcel content safe so it doesn’t spoil and add to the waste problem, environmental consultants Thinkstep were engaged to analyse the impact of the bags from the beginning to end of life.

As a result, new packaging, 100% recyclable and made of 80% recycled content by a company in Hamilton, was introduced last year.

Soft plastics to fence posts

Yes - your plastic waste could become someone else’s fencepost thanks to NZ Post.

Simply put it into a pre-paid bag which NZ Post will collect and send to Future Post where the magic happens.

According to Dawn, NZ Post staff are very proud of the work being done in this space.

She says it’s not only customers wanting to partner with delivery companies who share their goals, people applying for jobs these days ask about your sustainability practices.

“Lots of people want to work for an organisation trying to be sustainable.”

Into the future

Looking ahead Dawn says they’re now looking at their heavy freight operation and about to trial two hydrogen trucks to see how they work. Work will continue with NZ Post contractors to get them on-board with the sustainability message.

And through the Future Fit programme, staff will be empowered and encouraged to become climate change advocates at work, at home and in their communities.

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