The Danish postal service is preparing to end more than four centuries of letter deliveries, with operations set to stop at the end of the year. The decision reflects a rapid decline in the use of traditional mail, as digital communication and online services replace physical correspondence. In Denmark, letter volumes have declined by more than ninety percent since the start of the century, leaving parcels and e-commerce deliveries as the profitable focus for postal providers. The change illustrates how one of the world’s most digitalized societies is moving further toward a paperless future.
Across Europe, a similar trend is underway. The number of letters has fallen sharply in nearly every country, with some markets seeing volumes reduced by more than half since 2008. While the pace of decline varies, the overall picture is one of digitalization eroding the once-dominant role of physical correspondence. Even historic postal institutions in Germany and the United Kingdom have been forced to scale back services and cut jobs in order to adapt to these new realities.
For the United States, the possibility of following this trajectory raises both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, shifting away from widespread letter delivery could bring significant cost savings. The U.S. Postal Service has long faced financial difficulties, and reducing dependence on letter mail could allow greater focus on parcels, which continue to grow with the expansion of e-commerce. Modernizing delivery operations would also align with the way most Americans already communicate, since the majority of personal and business correspondence is now conducted online. In addition, the environmental benefits of reducing physical mail should not be overlooked, as fewer vehicles and sorting facilities could lower carbon emissions and energy consumption.
On the other hand, there are serious drawbacks to consider. Unlike Denmark, the United States has a much larger and more geographically diverse population, with many rural communities that still rely heavily on the mail for essential communication. Medical correspondence, government notices, and voting materials continue to be delivered by mail, and reducing services could create accessibility problems, particularly for the elderly and those without reliable internet access. The high level of political sensitivity around issues like absentee ballots means any change to the frequency or reach of letter delivery could carry broader consequences for trust in democratic processes. Furthermore, while parcels are profitable, transitioning too quickly away from letters could disrupt a system that millions still depend on for certain services.
Denmark’s choice highlights what a fully digital society might look like when letter mail becomes a rarity rather than a daily expectation. For the United States, the balance between efficiency and accessibility would make such a shift far more complex, requiring careful consideration of both the benefits of modernization and the risks of leaving vulnerable groups behind.
—by Greg Collier
