DPDgroup launches a unique air quality monitoring programme

After a successful proof of concept in Lisbon, Madrid and Paris, DPDgroup announces at the Polis conference an unprecedented air quality monitoring initiative to be rolled out in 20 European cities.

At a time when air pollution is one of the most serious environmental risks according to OECD, DPDgroup implements an air quality monitoring new initiative, in line with its corporate and social responsibility programme DrivingChange^TM.

For Yves Delmas, Chief Operating Officer at DPDgroup,

“the global community demands cleaner air and DPDgroup is in a unique position to help. We want to bring benefits both to cities, end-consumers and citizens.”

Based on this observation and in the view of improving life quality and health in cities, DPDgroup aspires to play a major role in air quality tracking by using its existing delivery network and putting it at customers’ service.

At the Polis Conference in Brussels, Dominique Mamcarz, DPDgroup CSR Director, reveals DPDgroup’s initiatives on air quality monitoring. While urban mobility accounts for 40% of all CO2 emissions of road transport and that consumers are more and more concerned by air quality,

“transport companies have a responsibility to act in a sustainable manner, measure and reduce continually their impact on the environment, by innovating and adapting their processes”.

Miguel Gaspar, Deputy Mayor, City of Lisbon, states:

“this initiative is really useful for our city. It is a decisive project since it enables us to obtain additional key data and to identify green areas and hot spots in the city. Thanks to our successful collaboration with DPDgroup, we are able to improve air quality in the city, and thus have a positive impact on our citizens’ health”.

The air quality measurement is performed thanks to sensors set on DPDgroup’s parcel delivery fleet and facility network, such as Pickup points and urban depots. Selected urban DPDgroup’s fleet and facilities are equipped with Pollutrack latest laser-based mobile sensors. These sensors collect real data every 12 seconds, street by street and at breathing level on most deleterious fine particles PM2.5 that is used to visualize on high resolution maps urban air quality levels. This innovative project, which will be rolled out in 20 European cities within the next two years, will be of great benefit both to city authorities and citizens, as it will provide some precise and real measurement insight on the PM2.5 air quality within the selected cities.

This environmental move could be made thanks to DPDgroup’s partner Pollutrack, an air pollution assessment and measurement tool. This reliable technology developed by Pollutrack enables to identify the most exposed areas to PM2.5 and better know what impacts fine particles have on people’s health.

Citizens will also benefit from this new service as they will be able to check air quality level at their doorsteps through a web-based interface.

Through these innovative transport initiatives intended to local and regional authorities, DPDgroup pursues its ambition to reduce CO2 emissions per parcel by 30% by 2025, compared to 2013, and reaffirms its commitment to have a positive impact on communities, cities and society in general.

About DPDgroup

DPDgroup is Europe’s second largest parcel delivery network.
DPDgroup combines innovative technology and local knowledge to provide a flexible and user-friendly service for both shippers and shoppers. With its industry-leading Predict service, DPDgroup is setting a new standard for convenience by keeping customers closely in touch with their delivery.
With more than 75,000 delivery experts and a network of more than 42,000 Pickup points, DPDgroup delivers 5.2 million parcels each day through the brands DPD, Chronopost, SEUR and BRT.
DPDgroup is the parcel delivery network of GeoPost, which posted sales of €7.3 billion in 2018. GeoPost is a holding company owned by Le Groupe La Poste.

About Pollutrack

Pollutrack, the very first mobile tracking system of fine particles PM2.5 was originally conceived and tested in Paris during the COP21. Having successfully proven the heterogeneity of air quality across the streets of Paris, hundreds of vehicles from the national electricity operator Enedis were then equipped with Pollutrack laser sensors and deployed nationally in Paris, Lille, Annecy…
The European deployment with DPDgroup is a major step forward for this innovative way of monitoring air quality at breathing level, to the direct benefit of all citizens.
https://www.pollutrack.net/faq-pm2-5-pollutrack/