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The company’s van usage fell 50% during initial trials in Manchester, while daily vehicle mileage was slashed 33%, resulting in lower CO2 emissions per parcel
Royal Mail PLC (LSE:RMG) has partnered with Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) to increase its environmental and social governance (ESG) credentials by trialing a more sustainable and urban-friendly technique to deliver parcels.
The postal delivery group, which already claims it has the lowest reported carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per parcel of all major UK delivery companies, said its van usage fell 50% during initial trials in Manchester, while daily vehicle mileage was slashed 33%, resulting in lower CO2 emissions per parcel.
“Ford’s software enabled Royal Mail to reduce van usage and mileage in the trial area, whilst still offering a prompt parcel delivery service, [and] reduced our emissions,” said Achim Dunnwald, chief operating officer at Royal Mail.
Ford’s software enables the company to arrange staff so that they meet delivery vans at specific points and deliver the parcels on foot around a specific postcode area.
Royal Mail used a smartphone application that provided the location of the van and highlighted the most efficient routes, which it said led to faster and more efficient deliveries.
This trial aimed to determine whether ‘multi-modal delivery’, with the help of Ford’s routing software, could help Royal Mail raise its foot-based deliveries of bigger parcels in urban areas, it said.
“Our software made it possible for Royal Mail to help reduce carbon emissions and congestion in city centres [and] we are delighted to see the results of this trial prove the value of delivery on foot and the effectiveness of Ford’s software in making city centres cleaner, greener and safer,” said Tom Thompson, founder of Last Mile Delivery at Ford.
This comes ahead of Manchester starting its Clean Air Zone (CAZ) next year, which will involve daily charges for certain vehicles being implemented in 2023.
Royal Mail said it is also exploring the use of micro electric vehicles and drones for deliveries to more rural areas to further reduce its van usage.
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