Our courier bag study finds a way to post more sustainably | thinkstep-anz

LCA study on courier bags finds a way to post more sustainably

New Zealand Post are on a mission to deliver parcels in the most sustainable way and are one step closer, thanks to a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study by thinkstep-anz.

Assessing the options

Our recent study identified an alternative courier bag with a significantly lower carbon footprint than NZ Post’s original A5 bags. The company is now making the switch to the alternative bags which are made in New Zealand from 80 percent recycled LDPE plastic.

To find the best-performing courier bag, we compared the impact of five, single-use alternatives to New Zealand Post’s original. The LCA considered the entire life cycle of each bag. In addition to its low carbon footprint, the New Zealand made recycled bag also performed best in 11 out of 14 additional environmental indicators, making it the best choice overall.

Our results have enabled New Zealand Post to make an informed decision that will have a big impact. 

Download the full LCA report below or read our "In a nutshell" summary of the main findings.
 

 

Report authors: Ben Riordan and Jeff Vickers

Published on: March 2021

In house packaging expert

Jeff Vickers 23

Jeff Vickers has wide expertise in assessing complex product life cycles ranging from buildings to agriculture, transport to electronics. He focuses on sustainability strategyLife Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and is our in-house packaging expert. Jeff has been embedding sustainability thinking within organisations for over a decade, and has been working across sustainability assessment, strategy and innovation.