An Post is switching its national fleet of 200+ heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from diesel to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a transformative step in its mission to slash carbon emissions and spearhead Ireland's logistics decarbonisation revolution.

Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels, explains: "The move from diesel to HVO will eliminate 6,000 tonnes of CO2 from An Post's operations annually, that's the equivalent of removing 1,300 diesel cars from Ireland's roads or planting more than 300,000 trees each year. We're designing Ireland's mail and parcels infrastructure for the future, to support Irish business for generations to come, and our commitment to halving carbon emissions by the end of 2025 and achieving net zero by 2030 is at the heart of this."

This milestone features prominently in An Post's newly published 2024 An Post Sustainability Report, which showcases significant progress across emissions reduction, electrification, biodiversity, and circular economy initiatives. The report confirms that 39.8% of the company's entire fleet now runs on alternative fuels, including HVO and EVs, positioning An Post firmly on track to meet its ambitious 50% carbon reduction target by year-end.

"This marks a watershed moment for An Post and sustainable transport in Ireland," said Owen Keogh, Head of Sustainability at An Post. "The HVO rollout means we can deliver measurable climate impact nationwide, while simultaneously building the infrastructure and mindset essential for net-zero success. Our progress is down to a continued investment in our fleet, our shift to alternative fuels and enabled by the exceptional colleagues who manage and operate our fleet on a daily basis."

HVO is a premium renewable, fossil-free fuel produced entirely from waste materials, including used cooking oil. It delivers up to 90% fewer emissions than conventional diesel per litre, fully complies with EU RED II sustainability regulations, and requires no vehicle modifications. An Post is building on successful trials of HVO in Galway and Cork, which delivered massively reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency compared to diesel.

To support this nationwide implementation, An Post has invested €360,000 in dedicated HVO fuelling infrastructure at its Dublin, Portlaoise and Athlone Mail Centres. Fuel will be supplied through a strategic long-term partnership with Circle K, with up to 3 million litres delivered annually.

This latest initiative complements An Post's substantial investment in electric vehicles, with over 1,400 EVs already deployed across its delivery network. The company is also advancing pioneering programs in biodiversity restoration, sustainable procurement, inclusive employment, and circular economy practices - all detailed in the 2024 Sustainability Report, which confirms An Post's standing among global leaders in sustainable logistics innovation.

An Post was recently ranked 4th in the world by the International Postal Corporation for sustainability performance and continues to serve as a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Ambassador for Ireland.

See the 2024 An Post Sustainability Report here.

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