BONN: Deutsche Post DHL is to invest €600 million in sustainability-related logistics infrastructure including 280 carbon-free delivery depots – 100 of which are scheduled for completion at the end of this year.

In addition to a current fleet of 20,000 electric vehicles, the company also plans to operate 400 biogas-powered trucks by the end of 2023.

Since 2007, its Post & Parcel Germany division has enabled customers to offset carbon emissions with its ‘GoGreen’ service via certified climate mitigation projects.

Now it has expanded the concept with ‘Go Green Plus’ for business customers via carbon-neutral ‘insetting’ – purchasing sustainable fuels, buying and deploying e-vehicles and operating rail services on 144 of the longest lines linking 37 DHL parcel centers in Germany.

Each freight train carries up to 100,000 parcels, saving 1,200 tons of carbon per month.

Despite this level of investment, Deutsche Post says it is still market conditions that dictate whether Germany will be able to provide a universal, carbon-neutral mail and parcel service: “What we repeatedly find is that in practice, sustainability plays no role in public sector procurement,” explained Post & Parcel Germany CEO Tobias Meyer.

“Contracts are awarded solely on grounds of price. We’d really like to see the German government make good on its announcement in the coalition agreement, that the Postal Act will be revised in line with criteria focusing on environmental and social components.”