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Amazon is set to take on Royal Mail as it launches deliveries on foot as part of a package of measures to reduce emissions amid the climate crisis.
Delivery associates – as they are called by Amazon – across central London will now take to the streets with carts filled with packages instead of driving from house to house, the firm said.
The pilot scheme is taking place in Hackney, Westminster and Islington and will see employees refill their carts from stocked-up vans around the city.
It comes as part of a wide range of measures by Amazon to cut delivery emissions, after the firm pledged to become carbon neutral by 2040.
Amazon insists the new plans will not delay or slow down deliveries, including of Prime parcels.
The company is also expanding its fleet of electric vehicles and using electric rail services for the first time.
But it all means Royal Mail will not be the only posties visiting Brits’ homes.
Michelle Gardner, Deputy Director, Policy, Logistics UK, said: ‘Decarbonisation is one of the biggest challenges facing the logistics industry, as businesses seek to match the need to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels with pressures from customers to maximise delivery efficiency.
Employees across central London will now take to the streets with carts filled with packages instead of driving from house to house, Amazon said
‘Currently, almost 90 percent of the UK’s freight is moved by road, so it is important that the sector considers alternatively-fuelled vehicles and a shift to different transport modes in order to fulfil demand.
‘Today’s announcement from Amazon demonstrates the sector’s willingness to change and its commitment to reducing overall emissions.’
As well as walking deliveries, Amazon says more than 140 new electric Mercedes-Benz Truck eActros 600 trucks and eight Volvo FM Battery Electric trucks are joining Amazon’s transportation network over the next 18 months, replacing traditional fuel-driven vehicles.
According to the firm, this marks the UK’s largest ever order of eHGVs and will dramatically increase the fleet from its current nine vehicles.
As part of the project Amazon will also install additional fast charging infrastructure across key UK sites, and the vehicles are expected to deliver around 300 million parcels per year once fully operational.
Today’s announcement also sees Amazon launch rail deliveries using the UK’s electric network to cut down on the use of road vehicles.
It estimates 20 million products will travel on Britain’s rails per year.
Elsewhere, electric cargo delivery bikes are being launched in Belfast and Norwich, in addition to existing schemes in London, Manchester and Glasgow.
The pilot scheme is taking place in Hackney, Westminster and Islington and will see employees refill their carts from stocked-up vans around the city
Amazon says more than 150 million deliveries have been made using its electric vans and cargo bikes in the UK since 2022.
The delivery firm is far from the only company in the industry aiming to cut emissions – although Royal Mail is a step ahead having carried out on-foot deliveries since its inception.
But Royal Mail has suffered in recent years as a decline in letters being sent in favour of parcel deliveries means it faces increasing competition from rivals such as Amazon, Evri and DPD.
It comes as Royal Mail today said it remains on track to return to annual profit after a parcel boost over Christmas as its £3.6 billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky nears completion.
The deal was given the go-ahead by government last year.
Royal Mail saw revenues lift 2.4 percent in the three months to the end of December, with sales of parcels up 3.2 percent and a 1.4 percent rise for letters.
The group said addressed letters continued to fall by volume, down 7 percent, but that this was offset by stamp price rises.
Parcel sales across the UK by volume remained unchanged, at 334 million, but revenues rose 2.5 percent to £1.02 billion as prices rose, while the division was boosted by a better performance internationally, where revenues jumped 6.6 percent to £227 million.
It remains to be seen whether Amazon’s walking deliveries will have any effect on Royal Mail.
The figures come as the takeover of IDS by Mr Kretinsky’s EP Group is expected to finalise by the end of the first quarter, having been cleared by the Government last month.
Nicola Fyfe, EU VP of Amazon Logistics, said: ‘Decarbonising our transport network is key in helping us achieve our goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions across our operations by 2040 and today’s announcement is an exciting and major step forward for us in this mission.
‘The combination of our – and the UK’s – biggest ever order of eHGVs, the UK’s electric rail network now being used to transport customer packages, and the launch of restocking on the move on-foot deliveries, all alongside our partners’ fleet of electric vans and e-cargo bikes, will help us move more customer orders across our fulfilment network with zero exhaust emissions. This is a win for our customers, the environment and our business.’
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