BUSINESS

USPS Sets Ambitious Sustainability Plan: Reducing Emissions and Cost Savings Plan

May 13, 2024

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced ambitious sustainability targets for fiscal year 2030.
Beginning in early 2024, USPS will begin introducing at least 66,000 battery electric-powered vehicles into its delivery fleet.
The USPS 10-year Delivering for America modernization plan provides a roadmap for the organization to continuously improve and increase sustainable practices.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced a set of ambitious sustainability targets for fiscal year 2030. These targets are focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing waste across the entirety of the organization’s operations. This plan is a testament to the USPS’s recognition of the urgent need for action in combating climate change and its harmful effects on our planet.

U.S. Postal Service Wants To Lower Costs and Emissions

Central to the United States Postal Service’s “Delivering for America” plan is a set of specific initiatives aimed at achieving a significant reduction in operating costs by $5 billion. To reach half of this ambitious goal, the USPS is focusing on streamlining its regional and local network transportation. By consolidating the handling of mail and packages into fewer facilities, the Postal Service plans to reduce its dependence on air transportation and eliminate thousands of unnecessary trips each day. This approach is expected to save at least $2.5 billion.

USPS unveils first charging stations for electric delivery trucks

The remaining reduction in costs is projected to come from overhauling the USPS’s processing, distribution, and delivery operations. This includes insourcing operations that were previously contracted out, consolidating operations from dispersed buildings into more centralized locations, and modernizing existing facilities. Furthermore, the USPS aims to reorganize its operating plans and schedules, add more sophisticated sortation equipment, and refine operating tactics. These changes are designed to enhance throughput, improve productivity, and better utilize assets. Collectively, these efforts are forecasted to trim another $2.5 billion from expenses.

These initiatives are poised to significantly reduce carbon emissions by eliminating the wasteful and unnecessary operating activities that have burdened the environment for almost two decades. While these measures address the critical challenge of sustainability, they also lay a foundation for economic growth. The Postal Service aims to expand its business by several billion dollars through these operational cost-saving and sustainability initiatives.

The Postal Service’s new targets for sustainability are centered on three areas: climate action, the circular economy, and environmental awareness.

USPS Is Taking Climate Action

The Postal Service is dedicated to slashing greenhouse gas emissions throughout its operations. A pivotal part of their strategy involves transitioning freight logistics from air to ground transportation. Furthermore, USPS is focused on enhancing the efficiency of delivery networks by optimizing routes for both trucks and carriers, ensuring that every mile traveled is as environmentally friendly as possible.

The adoption of reduced-emission and zero-emission vehicles plays a crucial role in this plan, underlining the Postal Service’s commitment to innovation in pursuit of sustainability. By the fiscal year 2030, USPS aims to achieve ambitious goals in emissions reduction:

Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40%
Reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions by 20%

USPS Is Supporting the Circular Economy

The Postal Service is proactively enhancing its contribution to the circular economy. This includes significant efforts to divert waste from landfills. Key to this initiative is the sustainable acquisition of materials, underscoring a future-focused approach to procurement.

Additionally, USPS is set to bolster its sustainable operations by increasing its use of on-site renewable energy sources and investing in renewable energy certificates, further underlining its holistic approach to environmental stewardship. By the fiscal year 2030, the Postal Service has set clear targets:

Divert 75% of waste from going to landfills
Increase recycled materials packaging to 74%
Increase the recyclability of packages to 88%
Increase renewable energy usage to 10%

USPS Is Expanding Environmental Awareness

In its ongoing mission to foster a greener future, the organization is committed to educating its 640,000 employees, as well as local communities, federal, state, and local partners about USPS environmental initiatives and progress.

The Postal Service is focused on ensuring that environmental policy requirements are effectively communicated and integrated into its operations. It aims to provide both on-site and online training and tools that align with policy and regulatory standards to 100% of USPS employees. These objectives are part of the latest efforts by the Postal Service to boost sustainability throughout the organization over the past three years.

Postal Service Launches Delivering for America (DFA) Modernization Plan

USPS has launched ambitious initiatives under its Delivering for America (DFA) modernization plan. This strategic shift aims not only to upgrade operational efficiency but to significantly lessen the environmental impact of its logistics network.

Complementing the DFA, the establishment of the USPS Environmental Council in 2023 is designed to steer the organization toward its environmental objectives.

The DFA plan lays the groundwork for ongoing improvements in sustainability across every facet of the organization’s operations. From constructing new facilities to optimizing transportation and refining delivery routes, each enhancement is a step toward minimizing USPS’s carbon footprint.

USPS Will Phase in at Least 66,000 Battery Electric Delivery Vehicles Beginning in Early 2024

Recent actions underscore the USPS’s commitment to an eco-friendly transformation. The introduction of the nation’s largest EV fleet marks a monumental step toward reducing carbon emissions.

Beginning in early 2024, USPS will phase in at least 66,000 battery electric-powered delivery vehicles, supported by an expanding network of electric vehicle charging stations. In 2022, a grassroots effort, including a lawsuit, convinced USPS to go electric.

Through all of these efforts and strategies, USPS is taking strong action for fighting global climate change. We commend USPS for its bold action, setting a great example for other agencies, businesses and organizations to follow, and provide a cleaner environment for future generations.