U.S. Postal Service Wins Prestigious Environmental Award

Named Climate Action Champion

WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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.

Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other
media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/news.

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.

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

Darlene Casey of the U.S. Postal Service, (O) +1-202-268-3440, (C)
+1-202-438-8886, darlene.casey@usps.gov