DPD launches pilot for emission-free parcel delivery in Rotterdam

Electric delivery from DPD City Store is first step to 100% emission-free parcel delivery

Oirschot, 25 October 2019 - DPD parcel delivery service is opening its first DPD City Store and Urban Depot in Rotterdam. By choosing a central delivery location in the centre of the city and electric vehicles, DPD is directly contributing to more sustainable urban logistics. With the pilot, DPD will achieve 100% emission-free parcel deliveries in Rotterdam in 2020. The DPD City Store also offers customers a range of services for extra comfort, privacy and returns convenience.

Comfort and returns convenience

From this month, recipients' DPD parcels will be delivered to the Urban Depot in the centre of Rotterdam. Recipients can collect their parcels from the neighbouring DPD City Store or have their parcel delivered to their home from the Urban Depot. In the latter case, specially developed, compact electric vehicles will be used to improve urban logistics as much as possible.

The 100 m² DPD City Store is located on Schilderstraat. Besides enabling customers to bring and collect parcels, it also offers additional services. For example, recipients can use a fitting room, so that they can return the parcel if the item isn't suitable. Customers can also return packaging material, print out return labels and take a cup of tea or coffee home with them.

Sustainable ambition

As a result of increasing urbanisation and the rapidly growing e-commerce market, congestion in cities is growing. DPD expects parcel volumes to have doubled in 2025. This development demands innovative solutions for distribution logistics and particularly with respect to the 'last mile'. The DPD City Store in Rotterdam will be used to test new 'last mile' concepts and to further explore the wishes and needs of recipients.

Eric Dietz, CEO DPD Nederland:

DPD continuously develops and tests new customer-oriented solutions to respond to market demands. We are also working hard to reduce our CO2 footprint. The pilot in Rotterdam is one of these innovative solutions and contributes directly to our climate goals. In 2020, we will have achieved 0% emissions in Rotterdam for the first time, the first step towards emission-free parcel delivery in the Netherlands!

Rotterdam

For this pilot, DPD is working closely with the municipality of Rotterdam and TNO. The aim of the municipality of Rotterdam to develop the city centre into a 'Zero Emission Zone' in 2025 perfectly fits in with DPD's ambition. This makes them the ideal partner.

The DPD City Store is located at Schilderstraat 32a. Customers can visit the store seven days a week from 9.00 to 21.00.