Green Skills & Practices for Postal Services to implement the European Green Deal

Significant international events like the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the increasing importance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals have signaled the urgent need for global business su...

Local postal services are engaged in various environmental activities but it's not always easy for them to keep up with the science and EU policies to create an adequate and comprehensive long-term plan focused on the right priorities, using the latest evidence and achieving better results.The project presents clear and tangible benefits for all involved stakeholders. It will enhance core skills and competencies in leadership, citizenship, and action, supporting green and social initiatives with proven environmental benefits for the region and local communities. It also promotes social cohesion, integration, and inclusion, offering advantages and more opportunities for everyone. The goals of this project were to establish a training program that will enable staff in local postal offices to: • Set a clear, long-term direction with flexibility to adapt to new evidence and circumstances. • Ensure robust and credible reporting, management, and accountability. • Establish strong local leadership and a more integrated delivery framework. • Provide resources, create incentives, and support sustainable funding, including from the private sector. • Ensure that everyone plays their role in creating the improved environment we all desire.

During 24 intensive months, the following activities were conducted through concrete methods: Initial project management activities laid the foundation for the project implementation. These activities include: 1. Initial and Internal Work Meetings: Partners' initial and internal working meetings were regularly organized, initially several times a month, later at least once a month, providing an excellent opportunity for internal networking. Additionally, 4 transnational meetings were organized; the first was held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the remaining three were conducted in person in Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus. Croatia also hosted a three-day LTT activity. Alongside GreenPosts-related activities to achieve results, dissemination activities were conducted. Furthermore, 4 multiplier events involving relevant stakeholders were held. Partners shared best practices and information facilitating continuous improvement, effective carbon management, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation. 2. Establishment of the Project Plan: This included a work plan and a Gantt chart with 4 revisions approved by the NA, a budget plan for project activities, clear distribution of responsibilities among partners, the appointment of members to the Quality Control and Monitoring Committee, identification of project indicators and intended outcomes, and the creation of a communication and dissemination plan. 3. Project Management Handbook: A project management handbook was developed, comprising templates for management reports and team contacts. Detailed, In the project management and implementation, the following results were achieved: 1. Partnership Contracts: Partnership contracts were signed between the lead partner and each project partner at the project's outset to ensure its smooth execution. 2. Project Implementation Plan: A comprehensive project implementation plan was developed along with initial reporting, detailed action plans per PR, activity schedules, project information, meetings, project activities, tasks, and deadlines. 3. Establishment of a Work Monitoring System: A work monitoring system was established. 4. Communication Scheme among Partners: A communication scheme was established among partners using platforms such as OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, email, and WhatsApp. 5. Project Indicators and Outcomes: Project indicators and outcomes were defined along with agreed-upon quality standards for content, usability, and appearance. 6. Financial Regulations and Reporting Overview: A financial regulation and reporting overview was created, consolidating management and reporting tools used by partners, including templates for biannual reporting and reporting guidelines. 7. Budgetary Handbook: A budgetary handbook, incorporating templates and timetables for budget monitoring, was developed. 8. Interim and Final Reports: Interim (semi-annual) and final reports were produced as required by the National Agency. 9. Additional Documents: Dissemination Strategy and Exploitation Plan, Quality Assurance Plan, and the project website (https://greenposts.eu/) were developed. Dissemination activities funded within the project management and implementation encompassed: 1. Visibility and Communication Strategies: Strategies for visibility and communication were developed. 2. Networking and Presentations: Project networking occurred regularly to enhance project visibility through various events, such as presentations to 40 members of the Environmental Working Group (WG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of PostEurop (European postal operators association) and to 150 participants of the HP Academy for Middle Management, including face-to-face conversations at formal and informal gatherings. 3. Project Identity and Logo: A project identity/logo was designed and used across various materials and communications related to the project. 4. Project Website: The website www.greenposts.eu was developed and launched for easy access to project information and linking to other websites and platforms. 5. Reporting Activities: Regular reporting on dissemination activities was done to the project manager through dissemination reports and board meetings. 6. Newsletters and Materials: Four newsletters, brochures, and other dissemination materials were created. 7. Corporate Outreach: Information about the project was shared on official corporate pages, like the Croatian Post's EU Corner, and partners' corporate pages and social media. 8. Internal Communications: Information about the project was regularly shared through corporate communication channels such as the intranet, magazines, and weekly bulletins. 9. YouTube Channel: A YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@GreenPosts.Project) was established for project-related content. The Steering Committee meetings were held regularly via the Microsoft Teams platform, at least once a month, and more frequently if necessary. Meeting minutes and results were uploaded and shared with consortium members on OneDrive or sent via email in a timely manner. Activities to achieve specific project outcomes were also conducted: 1. Development of 'GreenPosts Assessment Tool': This tool was designed, tested with 5 employees from partner postal organizations, and best practices were collected and included in a Synthesis report. It was refined and translated into Greek, Bulgarian, and Croatian from English. 2. Course Structure Design: A structure for the 'Implementing European Green Deal in Posts' course was designed. Course materials (9 lessons) were translated into Greek, Bulgarian, and Croatian from English. The course was piloted with employees from partner postal organizations, and participants received a certificate upon completion. 3. Video Interview Material: A questionnaire and guidelines for video interviews were developed. Material for 'Peer to Peer Success Stories videos' was recorded, edited into 4 videos, translated, subtitled, and uploaded to the project's YouTube channel. These videos were then shared on social media, project websites, partner organizations' websites, the EPALE platform, and multiplier events. 4. Development of 'Virtual Think Tank' Features and Content: A handbook and guidelines for using the VTT were created. The VTT was tested and refined, and stakeholders were invited to register and participate.

During the project implementation, an innovative online platform called the Virtual Think Tank was developed, along with a training program for employees on implementing measures from the European Green Deal in the postal sector. This training program is available in English as well as in the languages of the partner countries involved in the project. Additionally, four video interviews were recorded, available in English and the national languages of the project partners. As a result of a three-day LTT activity involving 21 representatives from 5 partner organizations, a teacher's guide was created. In summary, the main outcomes were: 1. Development of the GreenPosts Assessment Tool: Designed and developed, this tool was tested with 5 employees from partner postal organizations (4). It gathered best practices from European and global postal organizations, which were included in the Synthesis report. After refining the Assessment Tool, it was translated from English into Greek, Bulgarian, and Croatian. 2. Design of the 'Implementing European Green Deal in Posts' Course: The course structure was designed, and training material (9 lessons, each comprising four sections: lesson description, training material, PowerPoint, and a quiz) was translated from English into Greek, Bulgarian, and Croatian. The course was piloted by 265 participants, employees from 4 postal partner organizations on the project. (https://vtt.greenposts.eu/login/index.php) 3. Creation of Video Content: Questionnaires and guidelines for video interviews were made. Material for 'Peer to Peer Success Stories videos' was recorded and after editing (4 videos), translated into the national languages of the partners alongside English, with subtitles added. These videos were uploaded to the project's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@GreenPosts.Project) and shared on social media, the project's website (www.greenposts.eu), partner organizations' websites, the EPALE platform, and at multiplier events (4). 4. Development of the Virtual Think Tank (VTT): The VTT's features and content were designed and developed at https://vtt.greenposts.eu/. A handbook and guidelines for using the VTT were created. After testing and refinement, the VTT saw 402 registrations, at least 100 of which were from external (non-partner) organizations connected to the project's theme. Four multiplier events were held in Croatia (40 participants), Greece (27 participants), Bulgaria (25 participants), and Cyprus (27 participants). Each postal organization (project partners) conducted one in their country, involving relevant stakeholders who weren't project partners.