WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has added to its list of more than 70 environmental awards by accepting a Climate Action Champion Award. The U.S. Postal Service is one of only two organizations recognized for leadership in advancing climate policy.

Presented by the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR), the award acknowledges the Postal Service’s role in engaging and shaping public response to climate change and for substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 2003, the Postal Service reduced energy use at its facilities by 15 percent, and has pledged to achieve a 30 percent reduction by 2015. The Postal Service has increased its alternative fuel use by 41% since 2006, in part by using electric and hybrid vehicles, ethanol-capable delivery trucks and bicycles to deliver the mail. The Postal Service continues to implement green strategies to reduce petroleum use by 20 percent over the next five years.

The Postal Service is the only shipping or mailing company in the country to earn Cradle to Cradle certification for human and environmental health for its Express Mail and Priority Mail packages and envelopes. Postal Service mailing and shipping supplies already had exceeded U.S. EPA requirements, including recycled content standards. The certification means that more than 15,000 metric tons of carbon equivalent emissions (climate change gases) are prevented annually.

“Across the organization, from supply management to facilities to delivery, the Postal Service is integrating sound environmental business practices into our day-to-day operations,” said Sam Pulcrano, vice president, Sustainability. “We’re honored to be recognized by the California Climate Action Registry.”

The California Climate Action Registry is a private nonprofit organization committed to solving climate change through emissions reporting and reduction. It serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry for entity-wide emission inventories and also establishes protocols for GHG emission reduction (offset) projects through its Climate Action Reserve program. Each year, it recognizes only a few standout organizations and individuals that have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This year we received many outstanding nominations, and the U.S. Postal Service’s initiatives – and, more importantly, the results produced from these initiatives – made it deserving of being a Climate Action Champion. The Postal Service has proven that even an organization as large and complex as itself can make substantial changes to reduce its impact on the environment. I was very pleased to present it with the Climate Action Champion heavy-weight belt at our annual conference,” said Gary Gero, President of the California Climate Action Registry.

The Postal Service has been recognized as an environmental innovator and leader and has been honored with more than 70 major environmental awards, including 39 White House Closing the Circle awards for environmental stewardship.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.