DPD CZ, part of Europe's largest parcel delivery network, is launching a new information website, where every Prague resident can check the air quality in the neighbourhood. Website visitors can also find out, for example, whether it is appropriate to play outdoor sports or open the windows in their apartment. There are 70 vans driving around the Czech capital every day with laser-based measuring devices, and 20 more devices installed on 20 buildings. Data is captured every 12 seconds and updated in real time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Working with partner Pollutrack, DPD CZ measures fine dust particles PM2.5 (smaller than 2.5 μm), which are very risky for human health. Due to their miniature size, they can get deep into the lungs, which then become blocked and cause respiratory and heart problems.

 

"We live in a time when air pollution is one of the world's most serious environmental risks, according to the OECD. DPD CZ is in a unique position to help cities and citizens themselves to improve it, thanks to its unique data. "

explains Miloš Malaník, CEO of DPD CZ.

The average daily measured value in the capital over the last 6 months is 27μg PM2.5/m3, which is almost twice the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limit. According to it, the values should not exceed 15 μg/m3 on a daily average and 5 μg/m3 on an annual average. With the daily average measured in Prague, people should avoid outdoor sports activities and walks with children during rush hour. The DPD in Prague measured values about twice as high as in Glasgow or Lisbon and several units higher than in London or Paris. This is very likely due to the long-term and successful vision of Paris as a green city and the current rapid development of local electric transport and the creation of low emission zones in the city centre.

From the past 6 months of measuring data in Prague, the area around the Prague's City Highway and Strakonická Street was found to be one of the areas with worse air quality, with a measured average of up to 38 μg/m3. On the other hand, one example of a location with "better" air quality within Prague is Troja with an average of around 20 μg/m3, which is still above the WHO limit from a global perspective.

 

Reducing emissions

Prague has become the 12th city in Europe out of the current 15 where DPDgroup has launched this programme so far. In Lisbon, for example, it has the direct support of the city's top leadership, which has created a new low-emission zone in the city centre thanks to monitoring data. Air quality monitoring is part of one of the main objectives of DPD's comprehensive green strategy. This is the reduction of CO2 emissions, which is also linked to the expansion of urban DPD depots, the deployment of walking couriers, e-bike couriers and low-emission vans. Based on the measurements, DPD CZ can then also optimise courier routes and ideally work with local authorities. It wants to build on the successful operation of Prague's two urban bike depots in Florenc and Andel locations, from where wlking and bike couriers serve both banks of the Vltava river. DPD's delivery and operations offset 100% of its carbon footprint, and the Czech branch has also committed to delivering in Prague and Ostrava only by low-emission vehicles by 2025. The entire DPDgroup will then deliver in the same way in 350 cities across Europe, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by 83% compared to 2020. DPDgroup aims to become a global reference in sustainable delivery.

 

 

About DPD CZ

DPD CZ is a part of DPDgroup, the largest parcel delivery network in Europe. DPD's goal is to become a reference in sustainable delivery and a major driver of e-commerce development. With its 1.800 couriers and 1.300 Pickup points, DPD CZ is one of the leading delivery services in the Czech Republic. It is the only parcel deliver company in the Czech Republic to offer the Predict service - the customer knows in advance when the parcel will be delivered and receives the exact 1 hour delivery interval. At the same time, consignees can change the time or place of delivery according to their preferences in the DPD Kuryr app.

Thanks to DPDgroup, DPD CZ customers can use over 70,000 Pickup points across Europe and send parcels to 230 countries worldwide thanks to the DPD, Chronopost, SEUR, BRT and Jadlog brands. DPDgroup is the parcel delivery network of GeoPost, a holding company owned by La Poste Groupe.