Postal service shifts heavy-duty vehicles to eco-friendly fuel to lower emissions.
Livin' Green with An Post:
An Post, Ireland's postal service, is shaking things up by going green! They're dumping diesel in favor of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for their heavy goods vehicles (HGV), a move aimed at slashing carbon emissions and supporting their mission to reduce emissions by 50% this year.
HVO, produced from waste materials such as used cooking oil, delivers a whopping 90% fewer emissions compared to conventional diesel per liter. Plus, it's a perfect swap since it doesn't require any vehicle modifications. This transition is expected to eliminate 6,000 tonnes of CO2 from An Post's operations annually—equivalent to removing 1,300 diesel cars from Irish roads or planting over 300,000 trees each year!
According to Owen Keogh, Head of Sustainability at An Post, this is just the latest stride in using a transitionary fuel while electricification for HGVs progresses. "We've been trialing HVO since around 2022 out of our Galway center, and we've had really positive results in terms of emissions reduction, but also that the impact on vehicles was zero," shares Mr. Keogh.
These vehicles, working tirelessly while everyone's catching their Z's, are responsible for shipping parcels and letters across the country to local sorting centers, ensuring they arrive safely at your doorstep the next day.
An Post's 2024 Sustainability Report shows that 39.8% of their entire fleet now runs on alternative fuels, including HVO and EVs. This shift marks a significant milestone for An Post and sustainable transport in Ireland, as they work to deliver measurable climate impact nationwide while developing the necessary infrastructure and mindset for net-zero success.
Their progress is rooted in continuous investment in their fleet, shifting toward alternative fuels, and the dedication of their exceptional colleagues who manage and operate their fleet daily. They're building on their successful trials of HVO in Galway and Cork, which delivered reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency compared to diesel, and have invested €360,000 in dedicated HVO fuelling infrastructure at key Mail Centers in Dublin, Portlaoise, and Athlone.
Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels, emphasizes, "We're designing Ireland's mails and parcels infrastructure for the future, to support Irish business for generations to come, and our commitment to halving carbon emissions by the end of 2025 and achieving net-zero by 2030 is at the heart of this."
Bonus Facts:- Switching to HVO can help companies like An Post significantly improve their Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions from activities like fuel use), demonstrating strong corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship.- Alongside carbon emissions reductions, HVO usage also results in approximately 30% less particulate matter and around 9% lower nitrogen oxide emissions, improving local air quality.- Implementing HVO represents an important intermediate step toward full electrification or hydrogen solutions where feasible. However, considerations such as ensuring a reliable, ethical supply chain must be addressed to realize the fuel's full environmental benefits.
- An Post's switch to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for their heavy goods vehicles (HGV) is part of their environmental-science strategy, aiming to reduce carbon emissions not just within their own operations, but also affecting the broader industry.
- Finance plays a crucial role in An Post's green transformation, as they've invested €360,000 in dedicated HVO fuelling infrastructure, a move that aligns with their mission to halve carbon emissions by the end of 2025 and achieve net-zero by 2030.
- By utilizing HVO, An Post is not only reducing CO2 emissions, but also contributing to environmental-science efforts, as HVO produces approximately 30% less particulate matter and around 9% lower nitrogen oxide emissions, thereby improving local air quality.
