Dutch courier companies DHL and PostNL have agreed to alter their sustainability claims after an investigation by Dutch consumer watchdog Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM – Authority for Consumers and Markets).
The ACM investigated the claims of the three largest parcel delivery companies in the Netherlands.
PostNL has announced it will no longer claim that packages are delivered sustainably, while both DHL and PostNL now state they will cease using claims that suggest package delivery has no negative environmental impact. DPD had already adjusted or removed such claims.
The watchdog initiated the investigation last year due to the prevalence of green claims in the package delivery sector, despite its continued environmental impact.
Following discussions with the ACM, DHL and PostNL committed to removing or revising certain claims.
PostNL adjusted its claim from “Your package is delivered sustainably” to “The last stretch to your door is increasingly done with electric vehicles or biofuel.”
DHL confirmed it will remove labels such as “GoGreen” and “Naturally on the way.”
All related green claims, including those on delivery vehicles, will be removed by mid-next year.
“Consumers are increasingly shopping online, which significantly boosts package delivery,” said Edwin van Houten, Director of Consumer Protection at ACM. “While consumers often only see the final miles of delivery, the impact on the environment is much larger.”
“Thankfully, these companies are aware of this and are now adjusting their claims,” van Houten added. “Only specific claims based on real sustainability efforts help consumers make informed decisions.”
