Ethics and values

In addition to undertaking Norway Post’s social duties – providing a good and affordable postal service – the Group has a social responsibility. Norway Post aims to make a difference and take on extra social responsibility in two particular areas: the environment and integration.

For Norway Post, social responsibility means undertaking voluntary measures which neither necessarily bring about short-term gains nor are mandated by legislation or licence. Over the years, Norway Post has contributed much to the society to which we all belong. The environment and integration are now priorities because they is relevant for all of Norway Post’s business activities, and for every country where we have business concerns. Thus, the Group can take a leading role as one of Norway’s largest business concerns, one with significant presence across the Nordic region.

Goal oriented environmental activity
Norway Post has worked for many years towards reducing its environmental impact and has introduced a number of initiatives. Norway Post is participating in the government’s Klimaløftet (Climate Vow) campaign and has committed to several European industry initiatives.

Environmental awareness programmes for managers are being continually and systematically applied. Stringent environmental demands when replacing vehicles, the introduction of hybrid solutions, biofuel and electric mopeds, coupled with teaching drivers about environmentally efficient driving practices, contribute to a reduction in the average emissions level on a kilometre basis. Minor adjustments to customers’ service requirements can have a significant positive environmental impact. The introduction of the route optimising system GeoRoute ensures a reduction in the number of kilometres driven. When the new Østlandsterminalen for eastern Norway opens in 2010, its geo-energy plant will provide a significant reduction in environmental emissions and energy consumption. Its heat pump system, in conjunction with underground energy storage, provides an environmentally sound solution that will contribute to reductions in the use of primary energy for heating approaching 60 percent. As a result, CO2 emissions will be reduced by 97 percent, and NOx emissions by almost 90 percent, compared with use of ordinary sources of power to heating. This is the first time that this sort of technology has been used in an industrial project of this size.

In 2007, Norway Post was awarded Glass Bear environmental prize for developing a completely new pallet lift system, making the transport of letters and packages more efficient. In addition to the economic and health benefits, the new system has made it possible to fit 70 percent more mail on each pallet. Loading letters and packages for transport is now easier and pallet lifts can be compressed for return transportation. More than 300 tonnes of old mail crates have been recycled and used in the production of new pallets.

Environmental considerations will form an integrated element of all of the Group’s commercial decisions. We want to prepare the way for involvement by all of the Group’s employees so that they become committed to working for a better environment.

Diversity and integration lead to job increases
Norway Post will contribute to integration of ethnic minorities in society by deploying new methods of recruitment and integration. Norway Post’s fundamental values support diversity in employment.

The Group’s employees represent more than 70 nationalities. There have been many good local initiatives which have aided integration, such as free language training, and provision of courses on diversity and dialogue. Clear guidelines ensure that the recruitment process is fair and unbiased, regardless of ethnic background.

Norway Post cooperates with Norsk Folkehjelp (Norwegian People’s Aid) and has had zero tolerance of racism since 2000. Norway Post was awarded the Norwegian government’s Diversity Prize in 2005.