Do actions always speak louder than words? We believe that the combination of the two is transformative when it comes to sustainability. Consumers are now faced with an increasing number of 'green' messages from companies seeking to capitalise on their genuine concerns about environmental and social issues. These claims can be misleading and often undermine the relationship of trust between environmentally-conscious consumers and businesses, and run counter to the urgent need for action. Consumers expect companies to provide them with the clear and honest information they need to make more sustainable buying decisions. To demonstrate our commitment and to avoid greenwashing, Geopost and our business units have adopted a stronger position on sustainability claims that covers both visual and written communication.
We are guiding our teams with several key principles:
TOOLS AND TRAINING
We have produced a Sustainability Claims Handbook, hosted online and in-person training sessions and are providing ongoing support and advice to help our teams navigate this topic.
AUTHENTICITY AND CLARITY
We are encouraging our teams to communicate in ways that are:
Honest, focusing on substance over form, and avoiding overly ambitious claims.
Authentic, using genuine language and avoiding jargon.
Not omitting or hiding any important information, and only making fair and meaningful comparisons.
SHOWCASING SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS
We aim to reach net zero in 2040. As part of our commitment, we:
Communicate about how we are reducing carbon emissions and what the benefits for our customers and consumers are.
Collaborate with partners that have sustainability at heart.
FOCUSING ON ACTION
We're ensuring accurate representation of our sustainability initiatives by:
Removing green leaves from communication assets and removing all green imagery from Geopost network's vehicles fleet.
Gradually switching to a red rear door on delivery vans (changeover started mid-2024)
Avoiding misleading visuals by being selective in the use of the colour green, and by using imagery that accurately represent and reflect Geopost and its subsidiaries' sustainability efforts.
The implementation of these rules has begun. This is a continuous journey of improvement so that our words and actions lead us to our goal of being the international reference in sustainable delivery.