PostNL published its fifth Green Bond Report. This report provides investors and other interested parties with details on the use of proceeds and related expected environmental impact of the Green Bond (€300 million at a coupon of 0.625%, maturing in September 2026).
Pim Berendsen, CFO PostNL, says: “We are proud on the progress we have made in 2023 in further improving our carbon efficiency. We re-enforced our climate mitigation strategy, and submitted a more ambitious reduction target to the Science Based Targets initiative. For scope 1, 2 and 3 we now aim to reduce emissions by 45% in 2030 compared to the new base year 2021 (previously 18% compared to 2017). These clear targets are fully integrated in our strategy. By 2040, we aim to operate fully Net Zero. Also in 2024, another challenging year, we continue to invest in further solidifying our base, including investments in our green projects.”
The proceeds of the Green Bond are to be used to finance new and existing eligible green projects. This enables PostNL to contribute meaningfully to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ‘Decent work and economic growth’ and ‘Climate action’. During 2023, PostNL allocated €38 million of the Green Bond proceeds to eligible green projects which brings the cumulative allocated amount to €237 million (79% of total net proceeds).
The eligible green projects focus on clean kilometres, sustainable buildings and innovation and efficiency. In total, PostNL has invested in 4,525 new vehicles, of which 1,089 in 2023. The company continues to explore further opportunities to accelerate the electrification of its fleet. PostNL obtains the desired BREEAM certificates for 26 of its parcels sorting centres. Two new sorting centres in the Netherlands, operational in 2023 and 2024, are expected to receive a BREEAM-NL certificate in 2024. In 2023, PostNL’s head office in The Hague officially received the BREEAM-NL In Use “Excellent” certificate. It is the most sustainable national monument in the Netherlands. As part of its sustainability strategy, the company continues to explore new possibilities to reduce our carbon footprint and become more energy efficient.
Based on planned investments, the vast majority of the remaining proceeds will be allocated to electrification of the fleet and investments in sustainable buildings.
(PostNL)
