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Our strategy and purpose

At An Post our purpose is to act for the common good and to improve the quality of life in Ireland, now and for generations to come. In order to achieve this, we are committed to embedding sustainability in everything we do. We are accelerating this journey towards having a positive environmental and social impact, equality for all and creating everyday opportunities for consumers to live a more sustainable life.

We recognise that our operations impact every county, community, household and business in Ireland. We are one of the largest employers, maintain one of the largest fleets and have the largest retail network in the country. Therefore, we are:

  • Leading the way in making sustainable living commonplace in Ireland
  • Revolutionising our operations to reduce waste, source sustainably and improve efficiency
  • Partnering with industry leaders to ignite innovation
  • A national champion for protecting the planet
  • Making a positive impact on our communities and our planet

Our governance over sustainability matters is embedded within our business-as-usual model. It is a primary consideration in all of our decisions and is subject to the same standard governance policies and processes as all aspects of the business, rather than being in a separate “Corporate Social Responsibility” function or governance structure. For more information on our Corporate Governance please see our Annual Report.

UN sustainable development goals

An Post is committed to the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDG framework has 17 Goals which are an urgent call for action by all countries. The goals are interrelated and when tackled together, will improve the overall living conditions for people around the world. This includes tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. As a member of the International Postal Corporation (IPC), An Post has identified and is committed to the following five SDGs which are core to the business:
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
Whilst the focus of An Post’s reporting is on these five SDGs, we remain committed to actively contributes to the achievement of the remaining SDGs. We recognise that the five SDGs are interconnected and that each indirectly contribute to many of the remaining SDGs. For example, SDG 8 links to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) as well as SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing).
 
In 2020, An Post was re-appointed as one of Ireland’s 12 SDG Champions. Together, we will drive progress in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals as part of Ireland’s SDG Champions Programme, which is an initiative established by the SDG Unit in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.