As of 2019, Poste Italiane has adopted an Environmental Sustainability Policy, which allows it to identify the Principles and initiatives on environmental sustainability towards which to direct its commitment and action. This Policy is also a useful tool to formally communicate to stakeholders the green approach of the Group's business model, with reference to logistics, transport and property management activities. The Policy consists of several Principles, which define how Poste Italiane acts in the area of environmental sustainability. Specifically, the issues covered in the document concern resource efficiency, innovation to support the transition to a low- carbon economy, the reduction and prevention of the environmental footprint and the promotion of an environmentally conscious culture.
Specifically, in order to achieve the objectives and Principles set out in the Environmental Sustainability Policy, Poste Italiane has identified three areas of intervention, for each of which a number of specific actions are envisaged, detailed below:
For further information with respect to the surface and workforce covered by a certified EMS, please refer to the in depth document .
The Group is aware that energy efficiency is crucial to succeed in combining economic growth and sustainable development. Therefore, in adopting an exemplary environmental behaviour, Poste Italiane bases its strategy on the following areas of intervention:
Specifically, in order to achieve the objectives and Principles set out in the Environmental Sustainability Policy, Poste Italiane has identified three areas of intervention, for each of which a number of specific actions are envisaged, detailed below:
- Reducing the environmental impact of its operations:
— optimisation of energy consumption and reduction of atmospheric emissions generated by buildings, thanks to supply plans based on renewable sources and investment in energy efficiency solutions, such as continuous consumption control systems, use of eco-efficient lighting systems and other energy-efficient electrical/electronic equipment;
— encouragement of green transport for logistical activities and individual mobility, with the aim of reducing atmospheric emissions, also by providing employees with a company fleet of hybrid or fully electric vehicles;
— decrease in the consumption of materials and correct waste management, specifically through the reduction and containment of paper consumption, achieved through the dematerialization of documents and the maximisation the portion of waste that can be recycled/reused;
— reduction of water consumption.
- Incorporation of environmental aspects into the products and services offered:
— implementation of digitalisation processes for the products and services offered, as digital innovation can create shared value for Poste Italiane and its stakeholders, providing a valuable contribution both to the reduction of the environmental footprint and to corporate profitability;
— analysis of environmental risk and opportunities with regard toinvestment choices and the management of insurance activities, in order to significantly contribute to Italy’s sustainable development path.
- Raising the awareness of employees and third parties regarding the environmental culture:
— involvement of employees in programmes and regarding the natural environment and ecology, in particular also through the support and active participation of Poste Italiane’s corporate volunteer network;
— support training and information projects on environmental issues, as well as initiatives aimed at protecting and restoring environmental heritage;
— dialogue and cooperation with bodies and associations operating at national and international level, in order to design and adopt models, policies and strategies that can mitigate climate change and hinder the inefficient consumption of resources;
— analysis analysis of risks and environmental management methods adopted by counterparties (suppliers, business partners, other companies), in procurement processes and any extraordinary finance operations.
Numerous initiatives demonstrate Poste Italiane's commitment to environmental sustainability. In this regard, we highlight the projects to increase energy production from renewable sources through the development of photovoltaic solutions and those to absorb CO2 and other climate-changing emissions through the planting of green areas on the company's land and buildings are highlighted.
The effectiveness of the approach adopted is constantly monitored through procedures for identifying and assessing risks inside and outside the Group, also referring to the dialogue with stakeholders and the systems for reporting violations and sanctions.
In accordance with reference regulations, Postel S.p.A. and SDA, the two companies primarily involved in the certification process, have also defined specific environmental policies:
The Group has adopted a Management System in compliance with current legislation and national and international best practices. Postel SpA e SDA SpA have obtained UNI EN ISO 14001 certification for their environmental management system. The system consists of internal environmental management rules that are implemented to ensure punctual identification of the most significant environmental impacts and adoption of the most effective management and mitigation measures, through a structured performance monitoring system involving audits and periodic checks. The effectiveness of the approach adopted is constantly monitored through procedures for identifying and assessing risks inside and outside the Group, also referring to the dialogue with stakeholders and the systems for reporting violations and sanctions.
In accordance with reference regulations, Postel S.p.A. and SDA, the two companies primarily involved in the certification process, have also defined specific environmental policies:
- Occupational Health and Safety, Environment and Quality Policy of Postel S.p.A.: the Policy aims to ensure and monitor appropriate business conduct in compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements on environmental issues, aligning the Company to the required standards in the field of occupational health and safety. In addition, Postel S.p.A. defines its objectives with regard to environmental protection and prevention of negative impacts, with particular regard to efficient waste management, and its commitment to the responsible use of resources and the protection of biodiversity, relevant to its context.
- Quality, Environment and Occupational Health and Safety Policy of SDA S.p.A.: through this Policy, SDA S.p.A. establishes and presents the principles relating to the proper management of quality, environment and occupational health and safety issues. In particular, the Company recognises the importance of environmental sustainability, committed to the protection of the environment and making specific reference to the prevention of pollution and excessive consumption of natural resources that may result from the activities carried out within the Company. With this in mind, SDA S.p.A. promotes the recycling and, where possible, the reuse of the waste produced, and is committed to the constant pursuit of a supply chain based on sustainability.
For further information with respect to the surface and workforce covered by a certified EMS, please refer to the in depth document .
The Group is aware that energy efficiency is crucial to succeed in combining economic growth and sustainable development. Therefore, in adopting an exemplary environmental behaviour, Poste Italiane bases its strategy on the following areas of intervention:
- Renewable energy sources. Poste Italiane promotes the installation of photovoltaic panels in its buildings, located throughout Italy, in order to make the impact of its activities even more sustainable. The renewable energy project envisages the development of around 300 photovoltaic plants on flat-roofed property sites totalling 18MWp and around 25 GWh/y of expected production when fully operational. In addition, in 2022, 96 realisations were completed with progressive networking of plants. The initiative has a two-year duration and started in the first half of 2021, with a total investment of €31.5 million, of which €16.5 million in 2022. In addition to the approximately 25 plants built between 2009 and 2020, which now produce over 1.5 GWh per year, the new investments are aimed at building by the end of 2023 around 300 medium/large-sized plants that will cover all regions with one of the most significant interventions in Italy in recent years, certainly representing the most widespread initiative ever carried out in the country. This intervention will create a production capacity of 18 MW with a projected annual output of 25 GWh, equal to around 6% of current consumption, progressively leading to the connection of the first 9 MW of photovoltaic power to the national grid. The best practices for this type of plant are: the Padua Sorting Centre with 1,300kW of power that will be completed within the year, the Milan Roserio plant with 524kW and the Palermo Sorting Centre with 858kW completed and soon to be connected to the national grid.
- Smart buildings. Confirming the Group's commitment to environmental protection, in continuity with previous years, the Smart Building project was promoted for the creation of a management system for Poste Italiane's medium- small sites by monitoring consumption, climatic conditions inside and outside the buildings, and the automatic implementation of regulation and management systems for air conditioning, heating and lighting systems. The project, financed by the European Investment Bank, envisages the implementation on 2,000 Poste Italiane buildings of a Building and Energy Management System (BEMS) with a unique platform of integrated plant supervision, management and control aimed at optimising maintenance management and energy efficiency. The intervention includes both the installation in the buildings of sensors and plant control and monitoring systems, and the connection to a centralised platform that allows the progressive optimisation of plant and room management. With thousands of buildings scattered in every climatic zone and at every latitude and altitude in Italy, Poste Italiane is fully representative of the extreme diversity of climatic conditions that characterise the territory in which it operates. For this reason, the Company needs technical solutions that can be adapted to different conditions and that can optimally manage the comfort of environments for both staff and customers, in an attempt to use as little energy as possible and make the best possible use of the systems, so as to reduce breakdowns and increase the service life of the systems. More than 1,600 locations, mainly post offices and delivery centres, are already connected to the BEMS platform and therefore, efficiently managed and monitored remotely, also through the implementation of a dedicated Control Room, and the expected electricity saving is about 7.6 GWh/year when fully operational. By 2022, more than 950 additional locations were installed, in addition to the progressive improvement of the Software of the BEMS platform, also shared with some professionals in the area. During the year, more than 1,600 sites were installed and on-boarded on the supervisory system, despite some difficulties in the procurement of materials, with an investment of €6.5 million, of which more than 3 in 2022. The project is scheduled to be completed during 2023, with an overall target of approximately 2,000 locations.
- Energy optimisation. With regard to energy efficiency, Poste Italiane has started installing gas and electricity meters in the Company's main buildings, in accordance with the provisions of Legislative Decree 102/14, and expects the gradual completion and use of measurement data also for the new series of energy diagnoses by 2023. In continuity with previous years, in 2022, Poste Italiane planned a series of measures aimed at achieving lower resource consumption, in particular for the heating and cooling management of its buildings. The levers that are used are manifold and range from the renewal of end-of-life installations with more efficient equipment to the renovation of buildings to improve thermal efficiency, as well as revise the heating and cooling modes by switching from vectors such as oil to natural gas, to electrically powered heat pumps. Again, interventions are carried out according to technical parameters renewed year by year by the Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE), which indicate the types of solutions that qualify for incentives for the increased efficiency of installed equipment. Approximately 270 interventions were completed in 2022. As part of the so-called “green project”, between 2020 and 2022, the decommissioning of diesel tanks no longer in use and their conversion into water tanks capable of collecting rainwater to be used for the irrigation of newly planted trees will be carried out at 81 locations. In addition, the Company launched an energy efficiency project aimed at optimising the air-conditioning and heating systems at some of the Group's structural sites for more than 40 interventions and an investment budget of approximately €3 million in 2022.
- LED lighting. In 2022, Poste Italiane's commitment to the use of smart technologies continued. Over the years, the Group has installed LED lighting systems. In particular, more than 30,000 new LED light fixtures were installed in over 500 buildings in 2022.
- Encouraging virtuous behaviour. Poste Italiane, which has always been committed to promoting increasingly efficient and sustainable management of its operating processes, pays particular attention to the issue of reducing the waste produced, initiating and maintaining projects for the "virtuous" reuse of goods and equipment/equipment deemed obsolete, but which can still have a “second life”. These initiatives, such as “Valori Ritrovati” promoted in cooperation with Caritas, consist in removing certain goods and equipment from the waste management cycle by handing them over to third parties for reuse. Poste Italiane also participates in numerous initiatives aimed at raising awareness on the rational use of energy, such as “Ora della Terra”, “Sustainability Survey”, “Libera il Tuo Talento”, “M'illumino di meno”. Finally, the Company launched the “Green Challenge” initiative in 2022, a path aimed at encouraging Poste Italiane's customers to adopt appropriate behaviour in the area of sustainability.
