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Second Green Star for PostNL's Parcel Division

PostNL’s parcels division has been awarded its second Lean & Green star, in recognition of its achievement in reducing its CO2 emissions by more than 30% compared to 2010. PostNL has realised this reduction by deploying electric vehicles, installing solar panels and optimising logistic movements. The Lean & Green star was presented by Henk Krougman, Supply Chain Development Manager von Cargill und Botschafter von Lean & Green Europe, to Leendert-Jan Plaisier, Director of Operations at PostNL’s parcels division. The presentation took place during the Sustainable Mobility Festival in Amersfoort.

Source: AIJP News

UPU names Swiss Post the best in the world

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has named Swiss Post as the world’s best postal organization. In the comparison of 173 countries, Swiss Post took first place ahead of its counterparts in the Netherlands and Japan. For the second time in a row, Switzerland is ranked first out of all the postal organizations evaluated by the UPU in the Postal Development Index.
“Credit for this award goes to all of our employees for their tireless efforts on behalf of Swiss Post every day,” said delighted CEO Susanne Ruoff. “Swiss Post is very proud of another outstanding ranking in an increasingly challenging economic climate. This result gives us both a duty and an incentive to continue meeting these high standards in a rapidly changing environment,” remarked Ruoff.
The UPU awarded Swiss Post the top scores in its press release. Among all the dimensions evaluated, Swiss Post achieved the maximum score of 100 points for relevance and resilience. The average score for industrialized nations in these categories was 64.3 points (resilience) and 39.9 points (relevance). In terms of financial services and its national importance, it was equalled only by Japan’s postal organization, which, like Swiss Post, achieved the maximum score of 100 points for relevance. 
The UPU study evaluates reliability (efficiency, speed, and quality of delivery and services), reach (international networks and commitment), relevance (demand for the products and services, and how important they are to the country) and resilience (how innovative Swiss Post is, how diversified its sources of revenue are and how sustainable developments are implemented).
The study indicates that increasing digitization is posing unprecedented challenges for the sector worldwide, mainly due to the growing demand for delivery capacity in online retail. However, it also reveals that digitization is opening up new opportunities for companies which are agile, quick to react and proactive. In addition, the report suggests that an increase in investments and the creation of a level competitive playing field would boost postal organizations as a critical element of national infrastructure, offering a benefit to governments, regulatory authorities and market participants.

Source: AIJP News

Michel's new North America catalogue about to appear

The latest version of MICHEL’s North America Catalogue (edition 2018, ‘Übersee-Katalog 1.1’) includes some of the most popular collecting areas in the ‘Outside Europe’ sector, like the United States of America and Canada. But there are also countries to be found that are closely related to Europe, like Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a part of France with a special political status.
Throughout the catalogue you will find clear tracks of the careful editorial revision that this part of the ‘Übersee’-volumes has underwent. The focus of the editorial staff has been on the processing and updating of price quotations, especially those of the USA. Practically everywhere lively price movements can be found. It has also been possible to replace a number of black-and-white pictures with coloured ones, especially seen where it concerns the United States of America, where now all issues from 1947 on are shown in colour.
MICHEL-Nordamerika 2018 (ÜK 1.1); 42nd edition, format 15.5 x 23 cm, 704 pages, more than 7,000 pictures (mostly in colour) and about 35,000 price quotations, bound in hardcover with reading ribbon. Selling price: 89 euros. Available from 22 June 2018 in specialist book shops, stamp shops and on the Internet (www.philatelie.de).

Source: AIJP News

New publication of Richard Schäfer presented during NABA

(wm) At the recently held NABA exhibition the long awaited book of Richard Schäfer was finally presented. The presentation was done by Walter Brühlmann, professional philatelist of the auction house Corinphila, who accompanied the book project during two years. Schäfer’s new book bears a long title: „Schweizer Bundesmarken. Durheim Ausgaben. 1. Oktober 1850 bis 30. September 1854. Frankaturen – Seltenheiten”. Schäfer is a well-known and respected philatelist, thanks to the eight extensive publications that he already published. His ninth book counts 345 pages with not only elaborate texts, but also with countless tables, quotations, rarity proofs and other illustrations.
Thanks to the clear structure of the book, the information can be clearly surveyed, for the benefit of the reader. The opulent design of the book (hardcover with dust jacket, title in gold lettering and a spine showing an embossed text) leaves nothing to be desired. The circulation of the book is very small: only 250 copies. It will therefore turn out to be a ‘must have’ publication. Proof of the fact that the collectors that visited the book presentation were already convinced of its value was delivered afterwards: the small amount of books that were available was barely enough. Almost everyone used the opportunity to have their copy signed by the author.

Walter Brühlmann (Corinphila) presented Richard Schäfer and his new work. Photo: Wolfgang Maassen

Source: AIJP News