Tracking our progress
We have identified objectives and metrics to monitor our progress in relation to each of the five SDGs to which we are committed. To ensure transparency in our reporting, we have also included an indicator as to our current assessment of the likelihood of achieving the objective within the stated timeframe. This is to acknowledge the fact that many of our targets are ambitious in nature.
We have added some new metrics in 2021. No metrics have been removed since we reported in 2020. Some metrics from 2020 have been amended but this has not resulted in any restatement of prior year numbers. Where amendments have been made, the reasons are discussed in the Notes below the tables.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Objective: No zero hour contracts within An Post
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Number of zero hour contracts |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: Reduce employee absenteeism due to injuries year on year N1
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Total Lost Time Injury Rate (per 200,00 hours worked) |
5.06 hrs |
5.06 hrs |
3.15 hrs |
4.13 |
Below Expectations |
N1 New commitment. See details in ‘Sustainability Reporting’ on p.11 and Appendix: UNEP FI on p. 64.
Objective: Reduce road traffic accident rate year on year
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Road traffic accident rate (Rate per Million Km) |
0.6 accidents / Million Km |
0.6 accidents / Million Km |
0.566 accidents / Million Km |
0.45 accidents / Million Km |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: Strive for ISO 45001 certification at all An Post sites N2
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % of sites with OHSAS 18001 certification |
100% OHSAS 18001 certified |
100% OHSAS 18001 certified |
100% OHSAS 18001 certified |
100% |
Meets Expectations |
N2 New commitment. See details in ‘Sustainability Reporting’ on p.11 and Appendix: UNEP FI on p. 64.
Objective: Increase the proportion of women in senior management positions year on year N3
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % of management positions held by women |
73% Male / 27% Female |
73% Male / 27% Female |
65% Male / 35% Female |
66% Male / 34% Female |
Below Expectations |
N3 New commitment. See details in ‘Sustainability Reporting’ on p.11.
Objective: Reduce the mean gender pay gap N4
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Year on year reduction |
n/a |
n/a |
1.41% |
-0.16% |
Exceeds Expectations |
N4 See ‘Health and safety’ on p.19 for further details.
Objective: Maintain minimum 5% disabled representation in workforce N5
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| %disabled employees |
5.20% |
5.20% |
4.6% |
4.4% |
Below Expectations |
N5 We have amended the health and safety management metric to align with our compliance with ISO 45001, which we migrated to in 2021. This certification has replaced OHSAS 18001. 2018, 2019, and 2020 data refers to OHSAS 18001.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Objective: An Post have committed to spending €100m on sustainability capital expenditure by 2025
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Sustainability capital expenditure each year |
€750,000 |
€5,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
€2,395,000 |
Meets Expectations |
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Objective: In rural areas 95% of the population will be within 15km of at least one post office
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| 95% of rural population within 15km of at least one post office |
95% Achieved |
95% Achieved |
95% Achieved |
95% Achieved |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: In urban areas 95% of the population will be within 3km of at least one post office
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| 95% of urban population within 3km of at least one post office |
95% Achieved |
95% Achieved |
95% Achieved |
95% Achieved |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: Offshore islands will retain their post offices
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Offshore islands % retention of their post office |
100% (8 offshore island post offices) |
100% (8 offshore island post offices) |
100% (8 offshore island post offices) |
100% (8 offshore island post offices) |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: A post office in every community of over 500 people
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % of communities of over 500 with a post office |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Meets Expectations |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Objective: Maintain zero waste to landfill N6
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Primary recycling rate |
85.50% |
83.50% |
76% |
80% |
Getting Back on Track |
| Secondary recycling rate |
14.50% |
16.50% |
24% |
20% |
Getting Back on Track |
N6 2021 did not see an increase in our women in senior management metric. However, we expect the actions outlined in ‘Diversity, equity and inclusion’ on p.15 to bring us closer to achieving this commitment by 2030.
Objective: Reduce water usage 5% annually
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % reduction in water usage |
An Post is working to put in place a programme to reduce water usage |
An Post is working to put in place a programme to reduce water usage |
31% reduction (800,000m3) |
25% reduction |
Exceeds Expectations |
Objective: Reduce the packaging that An Post places on the Irish market by 5% per annum
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % reduction of material waste to market |
n/a |
18% |
11% |
64% |
Exceeds Expectation |
Objective: Achieve and maintain ISO 14000
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Has An Post achieved ISO 14000 |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: Incorporate an auditing program of our top 20 suppliers N7
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Number of suppliers audited |
An Post is working to put in place a programme of auditing out top 20 suppliers for 2020 reporting |
An Post is working to put in place a programme of auditing out top 20 suppliers for 2020 reporting |
29 suppliers audited |
23 suppliers audited |
Exceeds Expectations |
N7 We have amended the gender pay gap metric to align with the language in our 2021 Gender Pay Report. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
Objective: 90% of An Post tenders to include sustainability criteria as an education category where appropriate N8
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % of tenders completed which should have and did include sustainability criteria |
New KPI for 2021 report |
New KPI for 2021 report |
New KPI for 2021 report |
92% |
Exceeds Expectations |
N8 2021 saw a further decline in our disability representation metric. However, we expect the actions outlined in ‘SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth’ on p.13-21 to bring us back on track in 2022.
SDG 13: Climate Action
Objective: Reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2025 from 2009 baseline and to net zero from own operations by 2030
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Total carbon emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) N9 |
26,363 C02 |
25,459 CO2 (-3.5%) |
29,426 CO2 (15.4%) |
28,215 CO2 (-4%) |
Getting Back On Track |
| Total energy kWh used |
121,136,935 kWh |
120,140,280 kWh (-0.8%) |
137,289,324 kWh (14.2%) |
134,696,226 kWh (-1.9%) |
Getting Back On Track |
| Emissions from road transport (Tonnes of NOx, SOx, participate matter)N10 |
190 tonnes |
205 tonnes (+7.8%) |
246 tonnes (+20%) |
79 tonnes (-7.9%) |
Exceeds Expectations |
N9 We have amended the waste metric to ‘maintenance’ to reflect the fact that this has already been achieved. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers.
N10 We have amended the supplier auditing metric to ‘our top suppliers’ as we have achieved this with our top 20 and have expanded this programme of activity. This does not result in any restatement of prior year numbers. See ‘Sustainable procurement’ on p.35 for further details.
Objective: Achieve calculation and reporting of Scope 3 emissions for An Post by 2020 and for An Post service providers by 2021N11
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Scope 3 emissions for 1)An Post 2) An Post service providersN12 |
An Post is actively working towards Scope 3 emissions calculation and reporting |
An Post is actively working towards Scope 3 emissions calculation and reporting |
4,796 tonnes |
5,578 tonnes |
Below Expectations |
N11 We have updated our sustainable procurement objective to give us greater visibility of our suppliers’ commitments. This objective replaced the 2020 objective to ‘Ensure materials are purchased from responsible sources, e.g. 100% paper FSC certified’. The new objective aims to ensure that 90% of our tenders include sustainability criteria where, in the opinion of the buyer in consultation with the evaluation team, it is proportionate and relevant to the subject matter.
N12 Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources (e.g. fuel combustion, company vehicles). Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from purchased utilities (e.g. purchased electricity). The baseline year for Scope 1 and 2 emissions is 2009 and we use ISO 14064-1 methodology to calculate these. We report Scope 2 emissions using the market based method.
Objective: Reduce electricity use within buildings by 40% by 2022 from 2009 baseline
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Electricity used within buildings |
17,323,658 kWh |
16,539,340 kWh (-4.5%) |
16,422,164 kWh (-5.2%) |
16,094,629 kWH (-1.9%) |
Meets Expectations |
| Renewable electricity used in buildings |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: Replace all lighting with energy efficient lighting by 2022
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % or programme complete |
54% of buildings lighting replaced with energy efficient lights |
57% of buildings lighting replaced with energy efficient lights |
64% of buildings lighting replaced with energy efficient lights |
78% of buildings lighting replaced with energy efficient lights |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: 2000 electric vehicles by 2022N13
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Total number of electric vehicles |
11 |
166 |
1012 |
1010 |
Below Expectations |
N13 This reduction can be attributed to a change in reporting metrics for NOx emissions, which was recommended by both our ISO 50001 and IPC auditors as being the appropriate reporting standard for us to utilise in Ireland.
Objective: 150 electric trikes by 2022
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Total number of electric trikes |
0 |
78 |
110 |
155 |
Achieved |
Objective: Train 100% of drivers in eco-driving by 2023
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % of drivers trained in eco-drivingN14 |
0% |
10.2% |
32% |
62% |
Meets Expectations |
N14 A review of Scope 3 emissions in 2021 identified that emissions from our post office network, which are not directly within the An Post property portfolio, should be included in our figures, resulting in a rise in this number.
Objective: Improve fleet efficiency metrics by 3% per annum to 2025N15
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| |
New KPI for 2021 report |
|
|
|
n/a |
N15 Scope 3 emissions include all sources not within our Scope 1 and 2 boundaries (e.g. employee commuting, waste disposal etc) but do not include our subsidiaries.
Objective: All city centre deliveries in Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford to be by electric vehicles by end of 2020
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| % deliveries by electric vehicles in selected citiesN16 |
0/6 Cities |
1/6 Cities |
3/6 Cities |
6/6 Cities |
Achieved |
N16 In the Report next year, we will be reporting on the percentage of the vehicle fleet to run on alternative fuel sources to diesel, with the objective for this to be 50% by 2025. We are updating our electric vehicle metric to better represent our move to different sources of alternative fuels within our fleet. We will not be restating prior years.
Sustainabilty Reporting
Objective: Extend the number of green lending propositions in the Irish market, with at least two new green lending products offered by 2025N17
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Number of new propositions |
New KPI for 2021 report |
n/a |
N17 Our eco-driver training is a combination of three programmes: eVan training, Pro-Drive and CPC mandatory training for C Licence holders.
Objective: Develop an deliver at least two new financial inclusion services for the community annually by 2025N18
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| Number of new services |
New KPI for 2021 report |
n/a |
N18 New commitment. See details in ‘Fleet efficiency’ section on p.43
Objective: An Post to ranked in Top 5 for the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) in Ireland
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| An Post Carbon Disclosure Project ranking |
10th |
10th |
12th |
3rd |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: An Post to ranked in Top 5 for International Postal Corporation SMMS Programme
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| An Post International Postal Corporation SMMS Programme ranking |
10th |
10th |
12th |
3rd |
Meets Expectations |
Objective: Achieve a silver medal in the EcoVodis sustainability ratingN19
| KPI |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Progress |
| An Post EcoVodis rating |
New KPI for 2021 report |
Bronze medal |
Meets Expectations |
N19 This objective was extended to 2021 in our 2020 Sustainability Report as COVID-19 delayed the planned extension of emission-free deliveries.