Parcel carrier Hermes has launched an environmental, social and governance (ESG) program designed to reduce the company’s impact on the planet, promote equality and fairness and increase the transparency of its operations.
The company has also joined 200 others in signing the Climate Pledge, a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 or sooner. Hermes has completed its scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon assessment and expanded its fleet of low-carbon bio-CNG trucks to 160. Nearly a third (30%) of Hermes’ van fleet serving its parcel shops and lockers is now electric, making its out-of-home collection and drop-off more sustainable. In addition, the company will trial an electric HGV and continue to ensure all its operations use 100% certified renewable electricity. Future targets include becoming net zero by 2035 for direct and indirect emissions. Hermes will also sign up to the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) by 2022. In addition, all senior leadership will have ESG in their objectives from 2022 and all employees and contractors will receive mandatory ESG training.
As a part of the reform, Hermes will also double its charitable investment, update its code of conduct and introduce ethnicity pay gap reporting in addition to its existing gender pay gap reporting.
Nancy Hobhouse, who recently joined Hermes as head of ESG from John Lewis, where she was senior sustainability manager, will steer the strategy. She said, “We will continue to reduce carbon emissions across our operations by focusing on our vehicles, infrastructure, and innovative products and services. We are firmly on the road to net zero and proud we are the lowest carbon per parcel of any dedicated parcel company. However, we know that there’s more to do, and we will continue to innovate and drive this agenda forward.”
Fash Sawyerr, chief transformation officer at Hermes, added, “As a responsible carrier, we recognize our impact on the environment and we are pushing sustainability and ethics to the forefront of our operating model. We are committed to delivering a better future for the planet, including our people, our customers and retail partners, and wider communities.”