Achieving our waste goal

Since launching Steps to Zero two years ago, we’ve made significant strides in reducing the waste generated by our operations, and we are proud to announce that we’ve achieved a 27% reduction from 2020-21. That’s seven years ahead of the 25% reduction target we set for 2030.

Achieving this milestone is primarily due to new re-usable york sleeves made from plastic, which is more durable than the carboard previously used, and accounts for a 10% waste saving.

The York sleeve replacement project was launched in 2023 and involved our engineering team replacing the traditional fabric and cardboard york inserts with more robust corrugated plastic sleeves, designed and developed in-house. The new sleeves improve load fill and reduce the volume of single-use carboard across our network. This year, we’ve seen a reduction in bailed cardboard due to this initiative.

We also appointed a new primary waste contractor, Biffa, in 2023 and the new contract focuses on waste reduction, reducing the number of waste bins at sites and our waste services. Since the implementation of this contract, significant improvements have been made to Royal Mail's waste signage and segregation. With strong support from our people, we’ve reduced the number of bins across sites and set up strategically placed bin stations. These stations feature newly designed Royal Mail waste signage to inform staff of the correct disposal streams, leading to improved recycling behaviours across the organisation.

Waste management is subject to legislative changes, which are already in force in Wales and will come into force in England and Scotland over the next 12 months. To comply with the new legislation and avoid fines, to reduce our environmental impact and to drive down the costs of waste management, we all need to work together to support the changes to the bin stations, and make sure we’re segregating and disposing of our own waste correctly.

Link here for waste management in Wales, and here for waste management at non-Welsh sites.

Thank you to everyone for your focus and work to help us achieve this goal.

As our parcel operations grow, and waste practices in the UK evolve, keeping our waste volume down will continue to be a challenge. With the introduction of site environmental champions and continued behaviour changes, we look forward to delivering further improvements in the coming year.