Lights go out at global express company

The initiative is part of the company's GoGreen Program that was launched in April this year and which is designed to bring together all elements of its climate change initiatives the aim is to improve the company's carbon efficiency by 30% by 2020 when compared to 2007 levels. A further aim of the program is to raise the environmental awareness of company employees and promote the responsible use of energy.

With a network that spans over 220 countries and territories encompassing over 124,000 employees, the impact of simply switching off the lights in all offices across the world for one hour would result in a saving of approximately 5.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to the amount produced in one hour by approximately 250 diesel vans, operating under normal conditions.

Deutsche Post World Net, the parent company of DHL, claims to be the first major logistics provider to set specific and quantifiable CO2 targets that will be applied through a focused approach across four key functions - air, road, real estate and products and services. The company has begun replacing its older Boeing 727 aircraft with newer, more fuel-efficient 757 freighters.

The company is also assessing its entire real estate to make environmentally conscious choices in the development of new offices, warehouses and hubs. For example, the recently opened central European air hub in Leipzig, Germany will realize annual savings of 3,000 metric tons of carbon (compared with standard systems) through solar power, rainwater harvesting and the use of a combined heat and power plant.
The World Environment Day, held each year on June 5, is one of the principal events through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action. The slogan for 2008 is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.