Numerous stops during delivery significantly increase fuel consumption and emissions
Delivering mail by car deviates considerably from normal driving due to the large number of stops. Itella and VVT Technical Research Centre of Finland have examined the correlation between the intervals between stops and fuel consumption in mail delivery by car. The survey revealed that numerous stops during delivery significantly increase fuel consumption and hence expenses and the environmental impact.
During the survey, changes in the consumption of the fleet used by Itella in regular delivery were measured. These measurements were performed over 20 days in connection with regular mail delivery with the most commonly used mail delivery car. - The results show that, for example, doubling the length of the intervals between stops would reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by 13-14 per cent, explains Kari Mäkelä, senior researcher at VTT.
As a distribution and transportation company, Itella can most efficiently reduce the environmental effects of its business operations by cutting fuel consumption. Its fleet of over 5,000 vehicles covers around 170 million kilometres per year. Fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced by, among other things, efficient route planning and combining deliveries, as well as environmentally friendly driving.
The amount of carbon dioxide emissions is one of the key indicators of Itella's environmental performance. Itella's objective is to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 10 per cent from its current amount by the year 2012. In 2007, Itella's carbon dioxide emissions in Finland amounted to 105,000 tons, approximately 0.2 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions in Finland.
