Posten initiates pilot project for personal mail delivery in eight Norwegian municipalities

Posten, Norway’s postal service, has initiated a pilot project to deliver mail directly to residents in eight municipalities, addressing the growing need for personal interaction in a predominantly digital age. This project aims to adapt to a society with diminishing letter mail while maintaining a nationwide network of postal workers.

Among the participants is postal worker Ellen Hustad Vinjevoll from Åmdalen, who enjoys the personal connections she makes with elderly recipients like 74-year-old Stein Aam, a former mayor. Aam appreciates the weekly visits, citing the combination of social interaction and practical assistance as vital, especially for seniors who may face mobility challenges.

The pilot includes municipalities such as Ørsta, Balsfjord, Hitra, Asker, Ringsaker, Tinn, Evje og Hornnes, and Bømlo. Implemented to enhance community ties, the initiative has received positive feedback from the Pensioners’ Association, which views it as an important measure to strengthen the relationship between retirees and local authorities.

Data from KS indicates that 90% of recipients read the information provided by postal workers, leading to higher participation in local events. KS’s Deputy Director Monica Fossnes Petersson noted that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, although a formal evaluation is needed before the program can become permanent.

Since 2000, postal services have seen an 80% decline in traditional letter mail, which has prompted the need for postal workers to undertake new roles. Meanwhile, the volume of packages being delivered has increased. Postal managers believe that the current arrangement could provide a template for future community-focused initiatives, pending thorough analysis of the ongoing pilot project.