Article: A strong rail system is a sustainable rail system
Through Strong Rail, DB's overarching strategy, we at the DB Group are striving to pass a liveable planet on to future generations. In terms of protecting the climate, this means that Deutsche Bahn will more than halve its CO2 emissions by 2030 as compared to 2006 levels. By the year 2040, we plan to be climate neutral. To make this happen, we are partnering with DB Energy to ensure that our maintenance depots are supplied with green heat and receive an ever-increasing share of renewable electricity. Using renewable energy on-site is our effective contribution to cutting CO2 emissions.
With the Green Transformation, we are systematically implementing this project at DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung, too. We have defined five areas for action to do so:
- Climate protection
- Conservation
- Resource protection
- Noise protection
- Social responsibility.
A sustainable contribution to energy efficiency
The use of solar thermal systems at the Dessau maintenance depot is already reducing the effort needed to heat water today by up to 50%. When it comes to renovating maintenance depots to make them greener, there are further examples from our facilities where we are making a sustainable contribution to energy efficiency through measures to refurbish buildings for energy efficiency or by modernising machinery and equipment.
Together with our partners and customers, we develop products and solutions that meet our exacting standards for innovation and sustainability.
Preserving the ecosystem
For us, protecting the environment means maintaining a healthy ecosystem, including through the careful use of resources. For example, we use innovative 3D printing processes to produce certain spare parts ourselves so we can also reduce the consumption of raw materials in maintenance. For several years now, we have continuously met our target of keeping recycling levels for our waste at over 95%.
Helping to protect biodiversity
For a healthy ecosystem, however, we are taking matters one step further by protecting habitats for endangered plants and animals and committing to biodiversity. For example, we do this wherever we build new workshops or track systems to expand our maintenance capacities. As early as the planning stage, we take special care to ensure that no harm comes to any plants or animals. For their own protection, we move them temporarily to new accommodations before construction work begins. In previous projects we completed, for instance, we gave new homes to sand lizards, ants and other protected species. As part of a green mobility company, we are doing our part today for a better tomorrow and a brighter future.
Sustainable supply chains
As DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung, we take responsibility for our actions in Germany – but also in every other country where we do business. Therefore, as the foundation for a reliable partnership, we also expect our suppliers to treat people and the environment with respect.
With the introduction of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LkSG), the legislator has created the framework for responsible and sustainable value creation along the entire supply chain. As DB Fahrzeuginstandhaltung, we comply with the requirements of the LkSG.
To ensure compliance with the LkSG in our own business operations and in the supply chain, we have established a complaint procedure. Complaints and information about human rights and environmental risks as well as violations of human rights-related or environment-related obligations can be reported there.
The complaints procedure can be accessed at deutschebahn.com/lksg. Further information can also be found in our Rules of Procedure.
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