06/16/2010 07:57 am

DHL celebrates World Environment Day

On the occasion of the United Nations World Environment Day dedicated to biodiversity, Deutsche Post DHL has called on all its employees to engage in local activities to help save resources, improve CO2 efficiency and mobilize others to protect the environment and support biodiversity.

Already more than 5,000 DHL employees from 75 countries around the world have registered, with the number still rising. Activities include for example the organization of environment days for employees, including information sessions on how to save paper, energy and water, healthful and ecologically sustainable nutrition, the planting of trees, cycling to work initiatives or the clean-up of local areas to protect wildlife. For four days in June, lights will be switched off for an hour daily at the corporate headquarters in Germany.
In order to motivate as many employees as possible and to reward their efforts, DHL has committed to donating one square meter of land at a biodiversity project on the Southern coast of Brazil for every registered participant from the various divisions of DHL. The project in Brazil is part of the Global Invasive Species Program (GISP), and focuses on prevention and control activities as well as promoting environmental education. The project, located in the State of Santa Catarina, also has a special interest in clearing the area of pine trees to protect local plants and wildlife. 

Katharina Tomoff, Vice President of the GoGreen Program, said, “As a reward for our employees around the world who participate in World Environment Day and to support the International Year of Biodiversity, we will donate one square meter of local wildlife habitat in Brazil for every employee who registers and participates.” (Katharina Tomoff)

One of the key factors accelerating the biodiversity loss rate: “alien invasive species”. These are non-native plants or animals that have adverse environmental and ecological effects on the habitats and bioregions they invade. They disrupt regions, wilderness areas, and in particular habitats by dominating them. Today, these species are a chief cause of native wildlife and habitat destruction.

Deutsche Post DHL was the first company in the logistics industry to set itself a quantified CO2 target: by 2020 the company aims to improve the carbon efficiency of its own activities and those of its subcontractors by 30%. This means that the carbon footprint of each mail item shipped, ton transported, kilometer traveled or square meter of space used is to be cut by almost one third compared with 2007 levels. Measures to reach this target include optimizing the air and vehicle fleet, increasing energy efficiency, developing innovative technologies, encouraging employees to reduce their carbon footprint as well as engaging customers and subcontractors. The overall aim is to minimize the impact on the environment.


For further information: Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP)

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