bpost and the City of Namur in Belgium have set up a zero-emission Ecozone for parcel deliveries, through a network of parcel lockers and electric vehicles. The Ecozone is planned to be fully operational by the summer of 2022.
The city’s existing delivery network will be supported by new parcel lockers at six locations, where the inhabitants of Namur will be able to pick up their parcels 24/7, on foot or by bike, within 400m of their home. These pickup and delivery options have been installed to remove the need for recipients to drive to collect their mail.
To improve the city’s ecological sustainability and air quality, 20 electric vehicles are to be used to deliver letters and parcels in Namur city center, with 62 e-vans used to deliver to the postcode areas 5000, 5001, 5002 and the center of Jambes (5100). Mail carriers in the region will switch to e-bikes from the summer of 2022.
bpost and the City of Namur, which became a pilot city for bpost’s sustainable business processes in September last year, have also collaborated with retailers’ digital showroom NamurBoutik to ensure that online orders sent to Namur are handled at bpost distribution centers in the Ecozone or are placed in a parcel locker. This is intended to lighten the traffic on the logistics routes to the sorting centers.
Jean Muls, CEO of bpost Belgium, said, “bpost is constantly refining its approach to urban deliveries. We are continually adapting how we work to ensure we deliver letters and parcels in a responsible and sustainable way. With this new Ecozone in the Walloon capital, in association with the municipal authorities, we improve the quality of life in the city based on zero-emission vehicles, soft transport options, a huge network of pick-up points and a partnership with local retailers through NamurBoutik.”
Stéphanie Scailquin, councillor for urban planning, urban attractiveness and employment, added, “bpost’s Ecozone solution ensures letters and parcels are not transported outside the zone except when absolutely necessary. This has an immediate positive impact on the environment. Similarly, the fleet has been completely adapted and the drop-off/pickup points have been placed in strategical areas accessible by a whole host of transport options. This also boosts local e-commerce, with the active participation of NamurBoutik.”
Petra De Sutter, Federal Minister of public enterprises and postal services, said, “This partnership between the City of Namur and bpost is good news. By setting up this Ecozone, bpost is contributing to the greening of letters and parcel delivery, a goal that is particularly important to me. The Ecozones make our cities more sustainable and our environment healthier by reducing carbon emissions. They are also good for the health of inhabitants and urban spaces become more livable when our streets are less clogged. We congratulate bpost on its role as driver in the transition to a more sustainable economy.”