Paack is a technology-first company that is using innovation to help deliver excellent customer experience, reduce first delivery wastage and reduce the carbon emissions of our delivery vehicles and overall network. At Paack, we take into deep consideration our environmental, social and governance credentials, otherwise known as ESG, and we intend to make a difference by rigorously following their requirements.
But what do the ESG criteria really look at?
As the name suggests, environmental, social and governance criteria assess a company’s standards in each of these areas. Environmental criteria normally include energy use, waste, pollution, natural resource conservation and treatment of animals. Social criteria consider the company’s relationship with the community, including the relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and the local communities it operates in.
In terms of governance, it is crucial that a company uses accurate and transparent accounting methods and allows shareholders to vote on important issues. In addition, a business must avoid conflicts of interest and, by all means, do not engage in illegal practices. Similar to that, companies that potentiate positive environmental practices are becoming increasingly popular and, in a not-too-distant future, they will set themselves as the only standard.
So how does Paack approach the ESG criteria?
Paack was founded to build a logistics system that is both customer-centric and planet-friendly, so many of the ESG criteria are already in our DNA. But we know how important it is to demonstrate these standards to our stakeholders, which is why we decided to develop our own method.
Our unique approach to ESG criteria is divided into three main pillars: measurement, reduction and contribution.
Measurement
You can’t reduce the impact of something you don’t yet measure. We start by measuring where we are now and we’re transparent about it. We have used industry data to calculate that on average, last-mile delivery equates to 181 grams of carbon per parcel in the UK. Now that we have this piece of information, we can focus on reducing it and track our progress while we do so.
Reduction
We have already taken action to prove that we’re serious about reducing our carbon footprint by introducing electric last-mile vehicles and deploying renewable energy in our distribution centres.
We have a strong focus on innovation and our digital systems are continuously being improved using exciting technology. For example, in Madrid we currently have a robotized centre which we are planning to roll out to other markets. And we have some amazing new Driver apps packed with exciting features, such as an improved navigation mode, task management and delivery verification, as well as various other customer experience environments launching in the next few months too.
We have one of the biggest networks of electric last-mile distribution vehicles in the UK. In addition, we’re committed to 100% electric urban deliveries (city centres) in Spain by Q2’22 and by the end of 2022 in France. As we launch in new cities, the plan is to launch with networks of exclusively 100% electric vehicles.
We’re leveraging reverse logistics to reduce landfills waste, such as the collection of Nespresso capsules and used Inditex apparel, ensuring that the same journeys delivering new goods, can also serve to provide other responsible practices like recycling and clothing donation.
We’re reducing our emissions and our impact on the climate even further than before, plus our ultimate commitment is to provide zero-emissions deliveries across all major cities in Europe. Our aim is to be the first certified carbon net-zero logistics business by 2030. Our current expansion plan in the UK includes launching with 100% electric vehicles and committing to net-zero and as the business grows, we want to maintain that.
Last but not least, we stipulate contractually through our entire network the prerequisites of our partners to ensure all people earn above the living wage, are provided with benefits and that zero-hour contracts are not accepted.
Contribution
Our commitments are in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement and now, COP26 too. We signed the UN’s Climate Neutral Now pledge in 2020 and are the first and still the only logistics business to do so. We don’t want to mark our own homework. We want the experts to keep us honest, which is why we are seeking certification for our measurements and our commitments to the Climate Neutral Now pledge through The Carbon Trust.
Our contribution work also includes a partnership with One Tree Planted to support reforestation projects all over the world. We’re extending this to provide numerous certified climate compensation investments through reforestation, clean energy, biodiversity and reducing ocean plastics.
The future looks bright
We believe that the combination of our core values as a company and our desire to expand and take our innovative and planet-friendly approach to new destinations will have a positive impact locally and globally and, at the same time, will make us an attractive option for potential investors. We also hope to inspire other competitors to reduce their carbon footprint, which will have an impact on sustainability in the entire sector.
Our ESG credentials are important to us as an industry standard, but at Paack we have always believed in developing our business while having a positive impact on people and on the planet.
