In its letter post domain, Swiss Post is going to send a clear signal for the environment. From 1 April 2012, Swiss Post will offset all the CO2 emissions produced by the transport of all addressed domestic letters, and so, letter mail within Switzerland will become climate neutral. Apart from high-grade emission certificates from international climate protection projects, a Swiss project will be involved. Hence, Swiss Post adds concrete environmental protection to the advantages of the physical letter, and, additionally, strengthens the position of the letter in the communication market.

Swiss Post pursues a consistent climate protection strategy; it is continually reducing energy consumption and relies on renewable energy sources. Swiss Post will now take a further significant step in the letter business: On 1 April 2012 it is introducing climate neutral handling for all domestic letters, and it will bear itself the "pro-clima" surcharges for offsetting CO₂. Annually around 50,000 tons of CO₂ will be offset. As well as international Gold Standard projects Swiss Post is, for the first time, including a Swiss climate protection project in the compensation. Thanks to this investment, Swiss Post's handling of all addressed domestic letters will be climate neutral.

Another reason in favour of the physical letter

With the introduction of nationwide climate neutral letter handling, Swiss Post is adding to the advantages of the physical letter with further concrete environmental protection. Whereas the letter, thanks to its greater effectiveness, forms a convincing alternative to competing electronic media, the numerous climate protection measures during letter processing speak in favour of the physical communication. This recent investment will reinforce the letter's position in the communication market.

Another module in a comprehensive climate protection strategy

The climate neutral domestic letter is another important integral part of Swiss Post's climate protection strategy, which enables it to increase energy efficiency, raise the part played by renewable energy and offset C0₂ emissions. By 2013, Swiss Post intends to reduce annual carbon emissions by 15,000 tons. Swiss Post aims to have switched successively to electric vehicles for mail delivery by 2016. It is applying the Minergie standard to new and renovated buildings and operates a major proportion of transport between centres is by rail. Since 2008, Swiss Post has consumed electricity exclusively from water and wind power only and now intends to install photovoltaic panels on the roofs of more than 20 company buildings.

Parcels and international mail: lower prices for carbon neutral forwarding

Since 2009, Swiss Post customers have been able to pay the “pro clima” surcharge, which compensates for the carbon emissions caused by their consignment. Even after the complete compensation of domestic letter post CO₂ emissions, clients will be able to continue paying the voluntary “pro clima – mailing option” surcharge for domestic parcels and small consignments, as well as for international mail. Because of the favourable development of the emission certificate market, from 1 April 2012, Swiss Post will offer a price reduction for the climate neutral dispatch.