A letter from our CEO
Looking back at 2023
In 2023, more than 23.6 million citizens across the world used their secure digital postbox, delivered by e-Boks, to access, sign, and store critical documents from more than 30,000 public and private institutions – banks, insurance and pension funds, and utility companies.
Over two decades, e-Boks has built its business by delivering sustainable digital solutions and is today an integral part of secure public and private digital infrastructures – not only in the Nordics, but also across Europe, delivering over 559 million digital documents yearly.
The rapid digital transition, coupled with a challenging geopolitical climate and ever more sophisticated cyber security threats, have put the spotlight on the urgent need for ensuring reliable and secure digital communications channels. As one of the world’s premier secure digital postboxes with a proven track record, this meant an unprecedented busy year for e-Boks with a fast-growing pipeline of public and private prospective clients across every continent of the world.
We remain committed to the UN Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals
While trust in public institutions is declining, we are of the conviction that digitalization can be a democratic force for good, as long as we observe the mission critical importance of protecting people’s personal data, their privacy and our digital ecosystems as a whole. Secure digital infrastructures are key for the security of nations, financial systems, utilities and businesses in times of crises and geopolitical division.
It is our vision to create better digital societies and keep contributing to the sustainable development of society through digital transformation. We enable the transition towards paper-free distribution, handling, and storage of documents in the public and private sector with the security that users’ personal data privacy is ensured, and that their personal data is secured from landing in the wrong hands. To us, this is how we contribute to the UN Global Compact Ten Principles, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG 12 – Sustainable Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 – Climate Action.
In 2023, as part of our commitment to take climate action in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement, we set the baseline for our carbon emissions across scope 1, 2 and 3, and in 2024 we are proud to sign-up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), setting emission reduction targets initially within Scope 1 and 2.
Going into 2024 we are also stepping up our sustainable supply chain governance processes, so that our supplier selection, due diligence, contracting, and follow-up align and comply with our Environmental, Social and Governance commitments and priorities.
Instilling trust in secure digital communications is a key priority
We have an obligation and an interest to ensure that digital postal services and personal data handling remain trustworthy and resilient in the face of cybercrime and misconduct. For example, several reports incl. by IBM and Verizon, estimate that 3.4 billion emails a day –over 1 trillion a year - are sent by cyber criminals, designed to look like they come from trusted senders. As more and more communication and commerce are digitized, digital postal services such as e-Boks can play a unique role in becoming trusted and secure omnichannel platforms where users can be assured that the sender’s and recipient’s identity is authenticated.
Our ability to meaningfully contribute hinges upon our willingness to unite and collaborate to share experiences and strategies in a transparent and open manner. For that reason, e-Boks is actively involved and frequently speaks in stakeholder fora at the national, EU and international level, where policies, standards and united responses are developed for the digital postal sector.
In 2023, e-Boks became a member of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Consultative Committee. As a member of the UPU Consultative Committee, e-Boks plays a crucial role in assisting with the development of secure global standards that facilitate the seamless integration of Digital Postboxes into the portfolios of postal operators. With our expertise as a technology provider, our vision is to not only accelerate the adoption of Digital Postboxes but also ensure that these solutions meet the high standards of security, reliability, and user experience demanded by both postal operators and their customers. This collaboration between e-Boks and the UPU Consultative Committee is instrumental in paving the way for a more connected, secure, and efficient postal ecosystem, making it easier for postal operators and users worldwide to embrace the digital transformation with confidence.
Thanks to the e-Boks team and partners
e-Boks is its people, and I am proud of the teamwork demonstrated throughout a very busy year. We are striving to be an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can develop and thrive by being themselves, without any form of discrimination. As so many other companies in the tech sector we still have a way to go before we have the necessary gender balance across all levels of our organization, also at the leadership level. Still, I am proud that we managed to go from 26% to 32% women in e-Boks in 2023, and with the increasing number of women in STEM educations, I am confident this trend will
continue, and we will do our best to contribute to it. Let me finish by thanking the entire e-Boks team as well as our many partners and users across the world for your commitment, trust and confidence in us. This is a strong foundation as we look towards the coming years with their many challenges and opportunities.
Ulrik Falkner Thagesen Group CEO e-Boks
Introduction
e-Boks has been part of the UN Global Compact (UNGC) since 2018. The 2023 sustainability report is the 6th time we are reporting on progress against the UN Global Compact Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2021, we have reported in alignment with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and in 2022, we set a baseline for our CO2 emissions in Scope 1, 2 and 3. With this foundational work, we have signed up to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2024, submitting our CO2 reduction targets in Scope 1 and 2.
2022 was the first time we developed a dedicated ESG report, aligning with the indicators in the Global Reporting Initiative. There are many frameworks to report into, also including the many ESG supplier questionnaires we receive from new and existing clients, which aligns with the new EU CSRD reporting framework. Therefore, we warmly welcome the new UNGC questionnaire for Communicating on Progress, as it now integrates such frameworks. It has made the ESG reporting process more comprehensive, but also more streamlined, while at the same time guiding us in how to continuously improve on our progress.
For example, besides signing up to SBTi, we will also step-up our sustainable supplier governance in 2024, so that our supplier selection, due diligence, contracting and follow-up aligns with the UNGC Ten Principles and our other ESG commitments.
While ESG reporting is increasingly questionnaire- and data-based, we continue to develop a dedicated report. Through storytelling we can better explain to our internal and external stakeholders why it is important that we apply the business of e-Boks to contribute to a greener and more fair world; how we are progressing on our sustainability journey; where it is challenging; and what we do to overcome those challenges. At the end of the day, the business of e-Boks hinges upon the continued trust and confidence of our stakeholders, and the only way we can earn that is by being accountable and transparent.
We welcome feedback and input from our stakeholders on how we can improve. Sustainability is an integral part of e-Boks business model, and part of our growth strategy. It is an ongoing journey, not a destination.
About e-Boks
e-Boks is a trusted provider of secure platforms and digital postboxes. We offer companies, public authorities, and private citizens across the world an effective, secure, and userfriendly platform for digital communication. In 2001, e-Boks was launched to facilitate a secure and more effective way for companies to communicate with their customers and public authorities with citizens. Since then, e-Boks has played a pivotal role in digitalizing the infrastructure in Denmark and across the Nordics. According to the OECD1, Denmark remains among the best countries in the world to provide digital public services and no 1 when it comes to user-driven digital services.
Today, 90% of all Danish citizens have a secure digital postbox provided by e-Boks that is accessed with their personal secure digital ID.
e-Boks is an independent limited company co-owned by Nets and PostNord, providing national digital post solutions to the governments of Denmark, Greenland, Norway, Sweden and Ireland. Additionally, well-renowned international banks, insurance companies, and energy service providers have chosen to use the secure e-Boks platform instead of pursuing their own solutions.
Purpose
Our Business Model
Key resources
Financial Capital
We finance our investments through cash flow from our operations, and through our public-private ownership structure of PostNord A/S and Nets Denmark A/S
Digital Assets
We invest in digital solutions and applications, which can be used together with relevant systems and platforms across geographies and enterprises to scale up the secure and efficient communication between public authorities, citizens and businesses
Core activities
Secure Postbox
Provides end-users with a lifelong personal and secure postbox for important and sensitive information from public authorities and private businesses. Secure Identification of end-users is based on national eIDs
Secure Distribution
Guarantees a safe, digital distribution channel for sending sensitive and confidential personal data
Natural Resources
We rely on external data centres to power our business. Data centres consume vast amounts of energy, and as an important digital player, we are committed to sourcing 100% carbon neutral data by 2030
Human Resources
We rely on a highly skilled workforce to operate our business, and we work to secure a pipeline of diverse talent from leading educational institutions
Secure Dialogue Portal
Provides sender with the option to establish confidential, reliable, and secure two-way communication with end-user
Security Culture
We rely on a culture of security and integrity that always puts citizens’ interests first – their right to privacy, confidentiality and secure transaction of their personal data
Stakeholder Engagement
We rely on constructive collaboration with public and private partners to enable e-Boks to strengthen people’s legal rights, protect their fundamental freedoms, secure their legal identities and enable their secure and transparent access to public and private institutions. This is our commitment to SDG 16
The e-Boks portal solution for corporate online systems provides an integrated platform for digitizing costly and time-consuming manual processes into companies’ own digital universes. It supports the digital signing of documents, sending notifications, and the secure dialogue between sender and end-user
Digital Signing
Offers sender and recipients a convenient, reliable and secure way of signing documents (agreements, contracts, offers) digitally from both PC, tablets and mobile phones, including notification service, follow-up service, and archiving options
Payment
Provides recipients a convenient and secure way of paying invoices. Processes the invoices in collaboration with existing payment service providers (PSP)
e-Boks Plus
e-Boks Plus is a self-service universe that is displayed in a separate section in the e-Boks app. Here e-Boks’ mobile app users in Denmark, Sweden and Norway can access value-added services provided by e-Boks and third parties
e-Boks KYC
e-Boks has joined forces with MEO to solve the challenge of ineffective KYC processes. The platform is built to ensure the compliance of antimoney laundering and GDPR regulation. With the new KYC solution companies can request the necessary identification in e-Boks, and the customer can upload documents securely in the same place
How We Create Value for Society
Resources
• 23 years of experience as a provider of effective and user-friendly digital infrastructures
• Insights from public-private partnerships in 7 countries
• Co-creation with users
• 30,000 public and private institutions using e-Boks
• Data Center providers committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030
• Financial resources
• Diverse talent
Protecting and safeguarding citizen’s rights
• 23.6 million users have access to secure digital post
• 100% GDPR and eIDAS compliant
• 100% delivery guarantee of secure digital documents Reducing CO2e emissions
• 559 million documents sent through the e-Boks platform
• We strive to source 100% carbon neutral data by 2030
We are committed to SDG 12
Through helping digitalize countries and companies, we aim to contribute to reducing the material footprint of paper and water per capita and per GDP
Diverse talent amongst our employees
• 32% women
• 68% men
• 10 nationalities
Contributing to sustainable development through active participation in UNGC
We participate in the UN Global Compact, and we are committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2022 our UNGC COP has been selected as one of the 10 best reports from SMEs in Denmark
inspection report
The Danish Working Environment Authority - Arbejdstilsynet - is working for a safe and healthy working environment in all companies in Denmark. In 2023 Arbejdstilsynet paid an unannounced visit to e-Boks. The Danish Working Environment Authority has subsequently submitted a report stating that e-Boks fulfils the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act
• Up to 80% savings on distribution costs by shifting from physical letters to digital documents
Case study:
e-Boks contribution to the Danish digital transition and its environmental long-term impact
Background
e-Boks has been a trusted provider of secure platforms and digtal postboxes for more than 23 years. With the establishment of a digital postbox in 2001 , e-Boks was key in starting the digitalization of Denmark that today is placing the country among the top-three in the UN e-Government survey, and as the world’s most competitive digital economy by the IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, among other things due to Denmark’s ability to shield personal data from cyber-attacks. Today, Denmark is ‘digital by default’ with 90% of the population having a secure digital postbox.
e-Boks’ societal impact over a decade
It is e-Boks’ vision to create better digital societies and keep contributing to the sustainable development of society through digital transformation. The following model case description highlights how e-Boks, over the past decade, has contributed to a significant shift in the way private businesses and public authorities communicate and send letters in Denmark, and through that also has had a positive impact in reducing CO2e emissions and lowing the material footprint for the Danish population.
Model 1: e-Boks’ Contribution to Digital Transformation – a Summary
This model shows the historic development in e-Boks users from 2013 to 2021 in a Danish context (silo diagram) combined with the historic development of digital documents available through the e-Boks platform compared to the total number of physical letters sent in Denmark1
From 2013 to 2021, the e-Boks user base increased from 4 million to 6 million in Denmark. In the same period, the volume of digital letters grew to three times the number of physical letters – 542 million documents were available through our platform in 20212.
The model shows how e-Boks over the past decade has contributed to a significant shift in the way people communicate and send letters in Denmark and how it over time has been possible to create a tipping point from physical letters to digital post (achieved in 2016).
Model 2: e-Boks Contribution to Reducing the CO2e Foot-
e-Boks Contribution to the Environment
The transition to paper-less communication also has a positive impact on the environment. The pulp and paper industry has an environmental and climate related negative impact using timber, water and energy in its production as well as the resulting pollution and carbon emissions.
The shift from physical to digital letters has the potential to reduce CO2e emissions, primarily through decreased reliance on transportation services for physical letter delivery. Fewer vehicles on the road mean fewer emissions, which can contribute to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, it is crucial to recognize that digital communication infrastructure also has its own carbon footprint. Therefore, companies must prioritize energy-efficient solutions and support the transition to low-carbon energy sources.
Based on our calculations the average CO2e emitted with a digital document was 3.3g compared to 28.7g CO2e per physical letter produced and distributed in 2021. Therefore, digital documents are nearly 9 times more CO2e efficient than physical letters.
The model highlights how e-Boks is striving towards achieving its purpose and mission by reducing the environmental footprint of its services. The data highlighted in the model reveals that while the number of physical letters has decreased in the period, the number of digital documents has increased while still emitting less CO2e overall3. This is an important insight, as it indicates how a transition towards digital documents can considerably reduce the amount of CO2e emitted compared to conventional physical letters.
Model 2 tracks the development in physical letters and digital documents and shows the total emitted CO2e from each of these over a historic period from 2013 to 2021. The graph shows a positive trend in terms of climate impact, as the CO2e emissions from both the physical letters and digital documents has fallen over the period, reaching an all-time low in 2021. The graph shows that total CO2e emissions have fallen from approximately 28.900 tons to approxima-
tely 7.000 tons of CO2e emissions, this constitutes a 76% decrease in CO2e emissions or approximately 21.900 tons in total. This fall has happened despite the amount of sent letters remaining the same. This is seen as in 2013 772 million letters were sent, whereas 723 million letters were sent in 2021.
The reason why CO2e emissions from digital documents first increases and subsequently decreases, is due to the relation between the changing CO2e emission factor and development in number of documents. From 2013 to 2015 e-Boks total number of documents distributed almost doubled, which was followed by a more steady growth in volume. Additionally, from 2014 to 2021 the calculated CO2e emission from digital documents fell from 35g/CO2e per document to 3.3g/CO2e per documents. The combination of these two factors has led to the graph’s trajectory.
CO2e emission per physical letters includes the emission from production (2.7g) of the paper and the distribution (26g) of the letters.4
Digital letters require less energy to produce and deliver than their physical counterparts. The reduction in energy usage can be attributed to the elimination of the need for printing and transportation. However, it is essential to note that data centers and digital devices also consume energy. Our data hosting provider in Denmark is KMD6 who state that they are CO2e-neutral as they offset their carbon emissions with climate credits. Nevertheless, advancements in energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources are helping to minimize the environmental footprint of digital communication.
3 The reduced CO2e emissions for physical letters are also attributed to PostNord’s own efforts to reduce CO2e emissions: https://www.postnord.com/sustainability Last visited June 2024
4 See appendix B for a detailed elaboration
5 The emission number per digital document distributed is based on a French study conducted in 2022 by the researcher Basile Fighier: https://www.sami.eco/blog/empreinte-carboneemail Last visited June 2024
As digital letters replace physical ones, the demand for paper decreases, leading to a potential reduction in replacement of natural forests with commercial timber. While it is challenging to quantify the exact impact, it is clear that the transition to digital communication has contributed to preserving forests, which in turn has positive implications for biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
A blueprint for the digital transition
We at e-Boks are proud of the role we have played in the digital transition of the Danish society and economy over the past two decades. As decision makers across the world are stepping up their efforts to embark on their digital transition, we hope the Danish model case serves as an illustration of the potential for introducing a secure digital postbox to kick-start the transition and the multiple positive societal impacts that can be generated
6 https://www.kmd.dk/
for our climate and environment. We recognize that the Danish model cannot be replicated 1-1. Each country has their own cultures and norms and start at different levels of their renewable energy transition and mix. That said, we hope that these experiences can provide a blueprint for the environmental savings potential that a government or business may pursue in their own context and time horizon.
Saved Trees:
CO2e emitted by 615M physical letters sent
CO2e emitted by 181M physical letters sent
CO2e emitted by 542M digital documents sent
Total CO2e emitted by 157M digital documents sent
Our Approach to ESG
As a provider of a secure digital communication platform and digital postboxes, e-Boks delivers an important part of the societal infrastructure that makes modern democracies function and thrive. Our corporate purpose is to deliver better digital societies, and at the heart of this promise are citizens’ fundamental and inviolable rights and freedoms – to privacy, anonymity, freedom of expression, and the equitable access to public information.
External commitments
e-Boks is a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact since 2018 and remains committed to integrating the ten universal principles of Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption into our strategy and operations, as well as in our supply chain.
Through our participation in the UNGC, e-Boks aligns with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) index, which supports our intention to enable transparent communication of our progress towards achieving our environmental, social, and governance goals. Our most recent UNGC questionnaire can be found below7, along with our previous UNGC COP reports.
The Ten Principles are integrated into the e-Boks Code of Business Conduct8, which is anchored with our Board of Directors and Management Board, and the progress is tracked annually through the UN Global Compact Communication on Progress. It forms the backbone for our strategic decisions and daily activities and is operationalized and monitored through policies, codes of conduct, and external standards. The e-Boks code of conduct extends to our external collaborators and guides our way of working with contractors, suppliers, and partners.
Our support for the Copenhagen Pledge on Tech for Democracy, shows that e-Boks is committed to ensuring that digital technologies have a positive impact on democracy and human rights.
e-Boks way of doing business:
We place human rights at the core of our business - above all else, it is essential that clients and users trust that e-Boks observes the following principles in the way we develop and manage our systems –integrity, availability, confidentiality, and privacy.
We strive to be a great place to work - our people policy and our Labour Code of Conduct9 set out to ensure that all e-Boks’ employees, as well as suppliers, no matter where they are located in the world, are offered optimal and safe working conditions with respect for their private lives.
At e-Boks, we are in the business of protecting the environment by seeking to decrease our environmental footprint through collaboration with our suppliers, clients and users, as well as by looking at our own emissions. We include a broad range og aspects such as data warehousing to the offering of digital alternatives to the physical mail distribution and storage of document
Stakeholder trust is our license to operate - trust is a prerequisite for our ability to maintain and grow our business. Our Code of Business Conduct describes how e-Boks strives to engage with our stakeholders with respect and in compliance with rules and regulations, while upholding high ethical standards in everything we do. Acting honestly, decently, and responsibly is a fundamental part of our values. We provide continuous training to our employees, endorse a speak-up culture, and provide means to report unethical behavior in a safe and anonymous way.
7 https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants/132380-e-Boks-A-S
8 https://global.e-boks.com/media/qahizxpe/code-of-business-conduct-v-1-1-june-2023.pdf
9 https://global.e-boks.com/media/jcffdwc1/e-boks-labour-code-of-conduct-v-1-1-june-2023.pdf
Committment to SBTi:
Follow-Up on 2022 as Baseline Year
As a digital platform and solutions provider, e-Boks’ greatest contribution to fight climate change and build a greener world is to enable the transition towards better digital societies. Every single action counts to deliver on the urgent call for science-based climate action to reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050 and halve emissions by 2030. That is why we at e-Boks are ramping up our efforts to deliver a transparent and insightful account of our CO2e emissions in accordance with the Green House Gas (GHG) Protocol, and we have comitted to setting emissions targets through the Science Based Targets initiative.
Setting Science-Based Targets
While we in 2021 took the first steps towards identifying our corporate CO2e emissions in scope 1 and scope 2, 2022 was our initial baseline year for all material CO2e emissions related to e-Boks’ operations in scope 1, 2 and 3. In 2023, as part of submitting our CO2e reduction targets to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), we further updated our calculation method for Scope 3. All calculations for Scope 1, 2 and 3 have been validated by Primdal ESG, a third-party expert. The targets were approved by SBTi in Q1 2024.
The vast majority of our total CO2e emissions are in scope 3, and the largest part (82,4%) of that is downstream in the enduse of sold goods and services (scope 3.11). For e-Boks this covers every time a standard digital letter of 1 MB is witten and read on a computer using Wi-Fi, representing estimated 3.3g CO2e per standard digital letter10. In comparison, a physical letter of an equivalent size, produced and distributed in Denmark in 2021, was estimated to contribute to 28.7g CO2e. This means that e-Boks has an overall positive downstream impact on CO2e, enabling the transition from physical to digital post. See also our case study on page 12, which describes our historical impact in Denmark.
While transport and storage of digital data represent a fraction (1%) of the total CO2e emissions from producing, sending and storing digital letters, we recognize that data centers are still a major contributor to CO2e emissions. According to UNEPCCC11, data centres worldwide are now responsible for 2% of global CO2e emissions, with the potential to escalate to 14% by 2040.
Our data center provider, KMD, has set an ambition of becoming net-zero by 2030. Already in 2020, KMD reached its ambition of net-zero energy consumption, among other things by sourcing energy from Ørsted’s offshore windmill farm Horns Rev 2 and through certificates of origin on renewable energy from Norwegian hydropower. As we internationalize our business across the world, we have little direct impact on our customers’ choice of data-center providers. However, we proactively demonstrate the full potential of transitioning to digital post, also advocating for choosing data center providers that have committed to setting scienced-based targets towards the Paris Climate Agreement.
e-Boks recognizes the need for setting absolute timebound corporate CO2e reduction targets. Therefore, e-Boks has, committed to target setting through the Science Based Target initiative’s (SBTi) call to action for validation using the target validation service for SMEs. However, we must admit that we, as a digital platform and solutions provider, have limited control over the areas where our biggest CO2e emissions occur, not least in the downstream use of our products and services.
An important step in the direction of showing our commitment to environmental responsibility, has been the scope analysis of our scope 1-3 emissions, as it paves the way for evaluating the efficiency of our processes, identifying areas for improvement, and setting meaningful reduction targets in the future.
One crucial metric is the GHG emission intensity figure, which helps us measure the efficiency of our operations in terms of emissions generated based on number of digital documents.
This number indicates that even though e-Boks total CO2e emissions increase as the number of digital documents also increase, the CO2e emissions pr unit of output are considered relatively low.
Our GHG emission intensity figure covers scope 1 and scope 2 emissions as these are the material emissions that e-Boks has the most control over. By employing this metric, we continue to drive sustainable progress and embed sustainability throughout our operations. Currently it does not cover scope 3 emissions, as e-Boks has limited direct influence on these emissions.
Nonetheless, we strive to create a culture where we think green in the way we conduct ourselves on a day-to-day basis, including in the way we procure products and services, and by being an active stakeholder and sustainable partner with our suppliers and customers. In the coming years, we will explore ideas to how we can contribute to lowering our direct company emissions in scope 1 and scope 2, but more importantly, also how we can be a catalyst for change in our supply chain and among our partners in order to lower our scope 3 emissions.
total CO2e emissions for 2022 (scope 1-3)
Stakeholder engagement
e-Boks is working closely with stakeholders to understand and respond to their key concerns, expectations and needs. We draw on stakeholder insights, feedback and partnerships to understand where we have the greatest risks and potential for delivering stakeholder impact - short and long term.
Stakeholder How we engage
Focus: Employee safety, physical and mental health and wellbeing, engagement, inclusion and diversity, people development, labor rights.
Key ESG focus areas
Employees
Talent
Regulators
Structured input: On-going people development employee-manager dialogues, tri-annual workplace risk assessment and annual employee driven WorkPlace Assessment.
Focus: e-Boks awareness and reputation among IT professionals.
Structured input: Annual reputation survey conducted by the Danish tech media Computer World. Engaging with higher educations. e-Boks talent development internally.
Focus: Emerging standards and regulatory requirements for data platform providers.
Structured input: Regular meetings with public agencies for digitisation in countries where e-Boks is present or is building a presence.
Focus: How e-Boks best aligns with and contributes to EU’s vision and targets for digital transformation by 2030 as well as policy priorities for the development of digital public infrastructures outside of EU.
Policy makers
Industry associations
Structured input: Closely following the European Commission and its Europe’s Digital Decade 203012. Dialogue with national policy makers and public authorities within and outside the EU about expectations as to how e-Boks can deliver long-term value.
Focus: Stakeholder trends, concerns and expectations to the wider IT sector and opportunities for sector-wide responses.
Structured input: CEO representation in the Confederation of Danish Industry IT policy committee, participation in Copenhagen FinTech DIs udvalg for offentlig digitalisering og it-politik.
DI og Finansforbundets “Data etisk forum” .
Commercial public and private partners
Users
Focus: Stakeholder expectations and requirements to e-Boks ESG performance, risks, and opportunities for e-Boks ability to deliver on its ESG commitments in the marketplace.
Structured input: Annual partner questionnaires and feedback on e-Boks ESG performance, ESG requirements in public and private tenders, on-going input on emerging data security, privacy and cyber security protection measures and standards, e.g., in the financial sector.
Focus: Application of e-Boks offerings from a user perspective, evolving user needs and concerns, user-friendliness, accessibility and relevance of e-Boks services and solutions.
Structured input: e-Boks citizen panel, pop-up user-feedback to e-Boks solutions, user pretotyping of new services and concepts, on-going dialogue with civil society organisations representing people with special needs, such as the elderly and disabled people.
• CO2e emissions
• Energy consumption
• Water consumption
• Materials consumption
• Land and biodiversity Environmental
• Users’ access to a secure digital postbox
• Employee wellbeing, development, and rights
• Protection of Human Rights
• Embedding of e-Boks Code of Business Conduct
• Compliance with data security standards and regulation
• Anti-corruption
• Responsible supply chain management
• Anchoring of ESG
e-Boks commitment to the 2030 Agenda
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
e-Boks targets SDG 12.2.1, working to reduce the material footprint per capita and per GDP by accelerating the transition from paper-based to digital post. By 2030 our target is to enable 1.5 billion digital documents to be sent.
SDG 13: Climate action
e-Boks works to reduce our own CO2e footprint in scope 1 and 2, by comitting to the ScienceBased Targets initiative as an SMV. Moreover, e-Boks is also mapping how we can reduce our CO2e footprint in scope 3.
SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions Social Governance
e-Boks works to ensure that every time we open one million digital postboxes, we also strengthen one million people’s legal rights, protect their fundamental freedoms, secure their legal identities, and enable their secure and transparent access to public and private institutions. Our 2030 ambition is to grow our number of users to 30 million.
People care about each other here
*Currently e-Boks only employs 2030 targets for selected ESG parameters. We are in the process of evaluating how we can best set targets, measure and track relevant KPI’s relating to our ESG activities, in order to ensure a high level of transparency in our reporting.
** The main reason behind the significant increase in scope 2 emissions from 2021 to 2022 is a result of a) updated data and b) an improved calculation method. The combination of these two elements has enabled us to provide a more accurate and transparent accounting of our scope 3 emission. However, this also means that it is too early to make a clear conclusion on the development of the emissions in our scope 2.
*** The 2023 calculation has been performed following the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, and The Corporate Value Chain (scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard. The 2022-2023 variation in Scope 3 and overall can be explained as follows: The original calculation in Scope 3 was based on a life-cycle analysis which included relative CO2 emissions from the production of PCs, as a prerequisite for using e-Boks’ platform. Recognising that this calculation method involves a double counting of emissions, we have in 2023 only included Scope 3 category 11 – the direct consumption of electricity when using e-Boks’ platform – in actuality, scope 1 and 2 for the user – which is in accordance with the GHG protocol. This led to a significant reduction of e-Boks total CO2 impact from 2022 to 2023.
of our employees know and understand our Information Security Policy
We have a high level of security, rated by PwC
100% of our employees know and understand e-Boks Code of Business conduct
Through our supplier contracts, all significant suppliers agree to adhere to e-Boks Code of Business Conduct
Number of end user complaints to the Danish Data Protection Agency:
**** The reason why the ESG dashboard shows a drop from 744 to 546 million documents sent between 2021 and 2022, is due to a change in methodology. Previously all types of messages were included, where as now, e-Boks has decided to only count the documents which result in an invoice to a customer. We hope that this will give a more accurate depiction of the volume of digital documents distributed on the e-Boks platform. The 542 million documents mentioned in the historical model on page 10 corresponds to the 744 milion documents in the ESG-dashboard for 2021 after the updated method has been applied.
Data centres CO2 emissions
Source: https://c2e2.unepccc.org/kms_object/global-growth-potential-of-energy-efficient-data-centres/
Data on paper production in Scandinavian context
Source: https://www.holmen.com/en/paper/sustainability/sustainability-stories/how-to-undrestand-carbon-footprints/
PostNord approach to sustainability
Source: https://www.postnord.com/sustainability
PostNord sustainability reports with data on distribution emissions
Source: https://www.postnord.com/da/investor-relations/regnskabsaflaggelse/arlige-rapporter-og-baredygtighedsrapporter
Denmark remains among the best countries in the world to provide digital public services
Source:https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Reports/UN-E-Government-Survey-2022 det%20danske%20postmarkeds%20tilstand%20og%20udvikling.pdf
French study with emissions for digital letters
Source: https://www.sami.eco/blog/empreinte-carbone-email
Number of letters sent in 2021 in Denmark
Source: https://www.trafikstyrelsen.dk/Media/638094774603594297/Redeg%C3%B8relse%20for%202021%20om%20
Third party ESG expert https://primdal.biz/
A
Model 1
Explainer
Note that the model illustrates a historical development in a Danish context and therefore does not necessarily reflect expected developments in other countries. Further, it cannot be assumed that emissions in other countries will follow the same development path, as this depends on several variables in each country, including energy composition and mix.
The model shows the relation between letters sent based on numbers from PostNord and digital documents available through the e-Boks platform. For the sake of transparency we want to highlight that documents available through our platform doesn’t equal read documents 1-to-1, as there are multiple digital solutions for Danish consumers. However, a survey conducted in 2022 shows that 90% prefer e-Boks to other digital sites. Therefore, we believe the numbers are still valid.
Sources
Trafikstyrelsen: https://www.trafikstyrelsen.dk/Media/638094774603594297/Redeg%C3%B8relse%20for%202021%20om%20 det%20danske%20postmarkeds%20tilstand%20og%20udvikling.pdf
e-Boks: https://www.e-boks.com/danmark/da/nyheder/vi-goer-klar-til-ny-vaekst
Model 2 Explainer
The model displays a development that has been supported by e-Boks, but not necessarily driven by e-Boks. The reduced CO2e emissions for physical letters cannot be solely attributed to digitalisation in connection with e-Boks. The general technological development in Denmark, PostNord’s own initiatives, cultural behavioural changes, etc. also plays a role. The emission factors on which the figure is based are founded on certain methodological choices and estimates as described in appendix B.
Sources
PostNord approach to sustainability: https://www.postnord.com/sustainability
PostNord sustainability reports with data on distribution emissions: https://www.postnord.com/da/investor-relations/ regnskabsaflaggelse/arlige-rapporter-og-baredygtighedsrapporter
Physical letters
CO2e emissions from paper production and distribution of all physical letters sent via PostNord in Denmark in the period 2013-2021.
Production of paper:
It is important to note that the CO2e emissions related to paper production can vary significantly depending on the specific production processes and inputs used in the paper manufacturing. Factors to consider are the type of paper, the amount of reused paper fibres and the energy sources used etc. The emission factor associated with the production of paper includes CO2e emitted from the forestry management, raw materials, purchased energy, wood transportation, paper mills etc.
The Swedish paper manufacturer Holmen Paper has calculated the emissions associated with the production of 1 tonne of its paper in 2023. The emissions vary between 82 and 172kg CO2e/tonne of paper produced. Applying the 172kg CO2e per tonne of paper, it corresponds to an emission factor of 0.86g CO2e per piece of paper produced and 2.7g CO2e per letter, (if we assume 1 letter weighs 15.7g and 1 piece of paper weighs 5g).
Source https://www.holmen.com/en/paper/sustainability/sustainability-stories/how-to-undrestand-carbon-footprints/
Distribution of letters
The emission factors related to distributing letters in Denmark are based on publicly available data reported by PostNord. Data from 2014-2017 as well as 2021 is available and has therefore been interpolated to cover the remaining years of the model.
Source https://www.postnord.com/da/investor-relations/regnskabsaflaggelse/arlige-rapporter-og-baredygtighedsrapporter
Digital letters:
CO2e emissions associated with the total volume of digital letters sent in Denmark via e-Boks in the period 2013-2021.
The emission factor of a digital letter depends on many different factors, e.g., the length of the message, the formatting, the addition of an illustrated signature, the weight of the attachments, the time it takes to write and read, the internet connection etc. The calculations of this model have therefore been developed based on several assumptions, such as the average size of all digital letters being 1 MB, and that all digital letters are written and read on a computer with Wi-Fi.
Carbon emissions associated with digital letters are broken down into 3 categories: Depreciation of the manufacture of the computers used to write and read the message, the energy consumption of the computer during the writing and reading of the email, and the transport of data over the network. Note that emissions associated with the storage of digital letters are excluded as e-Boks’ supplier of data hosting runs on renewable energy.
Two different emission factors have been applied, one from 2014 and one developed in 2021, for the calculation of carbon emissions related to sending digital letters through e-Boks’ platform in Denmark in the period 2013-2021.The first emission factor is based on data from the publicly available database, La Base Carbone, which refers to a report from 2014. The database is managed by the French Agency for Environmental Change (ADEME). The second emission factor is based on a French life cycle assessment (LCA) study from 2021 conducted on emails by a team of experts in measuring the carbon footprint of digital technologies.
Both emission factors cover the LCA of digital letters based on respectively 2014 and 2021 data. The two emission factors have been interpolated to cover the entire 2013-2021 period.
Source https://www.sami.eco/blog/empreinte-carbone-email
