La Poste has introduced an ambitious new plan to support sustainable development.
Pioneering employee relations
• Job security: La Poste supports long-term employment through permanent full-time contracts and training to ensure promotion prospects for all staff.
• Good working conditions: health and safety in the workplace is of highest priority and issues are identified and addressed accordingly, for example postal worker road safety and risk prevention in parcel handling.
• A commitment to diversity: accessible to everyone, everywhere, La Poste aims to reflect societal diversity and is an equal opportunities employer.
• Equality: over the last 10 years, the proportion of women in the workforce has grown from 46.3% to 50.5%. On 8 March 2007, La Poste was awarded the "Equality" label by AFAQ-AFNOR Certification for all of its activities. It now has a structured framework and a management tool to extend equal opportunities to all levels: training, remuneration or promotion.
Leading societal progress
• Setting the example: La Poste has a responsible purchasing policy, provides buyer training and develops privileged partnerships with suppliers. Clients are offered products that are both responsible and ethical.
• Driving communication: La Poste has organised a decentralised system to assist local market communication and participates in regional projects. It actively cooperates with the other postal operators to promote sustainable development and help fight global warming.
• Encouraging solidarity: every year, La Poste supports fund raising campaigns such as the Téléthon and "Yellow Coins" fund. In 2007, a "solidarity leave" initiative was introduced, giving staff the chance to take time off to complete humanitarian missions.
Rising to the environmental challenge
• Fighting pollution: La Poste organises its transport to limit the number of kilometres travelled and reduce CO2 emissions. It gives priority to the least polluting forms of transport wherever possible.
GeoPost and its subsidiaries are committed to proactively combating carbon emissions and are preparing to measure the carbon footprint of each package carried.
In 2007 Chronopost Portugal acquired vehicles that run on bio-diesel, making up 66% of its fleet, with the aim of reaching 100% by 2009. In order to continue to progress in other areas of sustainable development, the subsidiaries measure environmental and social indicators implemented in 2006: In 2007 Seur GeoPost was using 100% recycled paper in Madrid.
Finally, to stimulate best ecological practices, DPD Germany has created an operational team called "Living Future", while GeoPost UK has appointed a "Green Council" involving all areas of the company - its activities are recognisable by the "Goinggreen" logo.
• Building intelligently: to reduce the impact of its operations, La Poste integrates environmental criteria into the construction and renovation of its buildings.
• Consuming responsibly: a policy is in place regarding responsible paper consumption.
The ecological stamp book: for the world
In January 2007, the Mail division launched the ecological stamp book "For the Planet". It contains 12 stamps instead of 10 on a nearly identical paper surface area. The paper used is sourced from sustainably managed forests. The adhesive is water-based, solvent free, and the red ink contains no dangerous substances. 2007 also saw another leading product from the mail range – "Ready-to-Post" envelopes – upgraded to meet French environmental standards (NF).
Ecological transport
After 2 years of positive experimentation results, our responsible transport policy is becoming clearer. The ecological driving trials undertaken in Lyon and then in the Val d’Oise have allowed us to reduce fuel consumption by 8%. La Poste has decided to offer training in ecological driving to our 60,000 postmen and postwomen between now and the end of 2009. In 2007, 6,500 postmen and postwomen were already practicing this kind of responsible driving. At the same time La Poste is building a fleet of electric vehicles for the collection and delivery of mail in urban areas. 800 postmen and postwomen were equipped with electrically assisted bicycles in 2007, a European call for tenders was launched for the supply of 500 electric vehicles and 10 electric quad bikes were on trial. Mediapost has implemented a voluntary policy intended to encourage the ecological design of non-addressed advertising mail, and has published an Efficiency and Sustainability Guide on the subject to be distributed to both current and prospective clients. The aim of this guide is to raise awareness of the environmental issues of such an advertising campaign, while preserving efficiency, cost-control and profitability.
