Lier (Antwerp) is the 22nd Belgian city where the national mail service Bpost is introducing its sustainable parcel logistics. From now on, Bpost will deliver parcels and mail in Lier emission-free by equipping its postal workers with electric vans or bikes.
Twenty-three postal workers will conduct their rounds electrically, delivering up to 2,000 parcels per day without unnecessarily burdening the environment or producing exhaust emissions.
Pick-up points
In addition to deploying an electric fleet, a dense network of pick-up points will also help make parcel logistics in the city as sustainable as possible. The pick-up points will make it easier for residents to collect or send parcels on foot or by bike, reducing the number of kilometers travelled in the city.
Bpost has therefore installed nine Bboxes (parcel lockers) at the post office, where the 38,000 residents of Lier can collect their parcels 24/7. By adding three Postal Points (retailers offering postal services) and one Parcel Point (retailers where parcels can be collected or sent), the city of Lier now has 14 locations where people can send or collect their parcels.
Bpopst started delivering parcels and mail emission-free in 2020 in Mechelen. Later, Bpost’s sustainable parcel logistics were gradually rolled out across 109 postal codes, including cities such as Bruges, Charleroi, Courtrai, Hasselt, Roeselare, and Liège. Today, 28% of parcels are delivered emission-free.
Carbon-neutral by 2050
This year as well, Bpost aims to make several cities emission-free. These efforts all fit in Bpost’s ambition to deliver all parcels in Belgium emission-free by 2035. By 2050, Bpost even aims to become a fully carbon-neutral company.
National postal services in neighboring countries are also actively implementing sustainable logistics, but they are still in transition rather than fully sustainable.
Europe
The Netherlands is considered one of the frontrunners in Europe, using electric delivery vans, cargo bikes, and even walking routes. The country’s goal is to achieve zero-emission last-mile delivery in the Benelux by 2030.
Germany stands out for its scale and speed of implementation. The country already has thousands of electric delivery vehicles, climate-friendly buildings, route optimization, and alternative fuels.
Across Europe, postal operators are collaborating on sustainability initiatives, focusing heavily on the last mile, where emissions can be reduced most effectively.
