USPS Unveils Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets for 2030

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has unveiled a new set of goals for 2030 that are focused on reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions across the board.

The three main pillars of the new sustainability targets are environmental awareness, creating a circular economy (through recycling and renewables), and climate action.

USPS is going to switch from air to ground transportation for freight, streamline truck and carrier delivery routes, and purchase low-emission vehicles to decrease emissions throughout the company.

USPS says it is committed to significantly reducing its environmental impact by targeting a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from Scope 1 and Scope 2 sources (emissions directly and indirectly generated by the company's operations, such as vehicle usage and building electricity consumption).

Additionally, USPS aims to achieve a 20% reduction in Scope 3 emissions (representing the indirect emissions associated with the company's supply chain and customer product use). These targets reflect USPS's dedication to sustainability as it works towards a greener future by the close of fiscal year 2030.

USPS is also aiming to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by acquiring materials sustainably. By 2030, it wants to divert 75% of waste from landfills, raise the recycled content of packaging to 74%, enhance package recyclability to 88%, and use 10% more renewable energy.

The business intends to keep educating its 640,000 workers about environmental policy requirements and how to communicate and apply them to daily operations. Employees will receive online and on-site training.

Source: USPS, Deloitte

Header image: Arnet Xavier