Utrecht workshop: Embracing Carbon Management and Circular Economy Principles

Our recent Railsponsible workshop, in Utrecht at Nederlandse Spoorwagen, was a deep dive into crucial sustainability topics: “Carbon in Tenders” and “Circular Economy.” This two-day event marked another step towards integrating environmental considerations into the railway sector’s operational and strategic frameworks.

Day One: Carbon in Tenders

The workshop kicked off with an emphasis on embedding carbon considerations within tenders. The day was structured around collaborative sessions where participants exchanged insights on carbon pricing strategies. The discussions aimed to harmonize methodologies for carbon pricing within tenders, reflecting Railsponsible’s dedication to reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions.

Day Two: Circular Economy

On the second day, the focus shifted to Circular Economy, a key to sustainable growth and resource efficiency. Participants were treated to presentations from member companies like Wabtec and ÖBB, which showcased their initiatives towards more sustainable practices. The highlight of the day was a series of working sessions where attendees explored various “hotspots” in the railway value chain that could benefit from circular economy principles. These discussions were not only theoretical but aimed at identifying practical steps for implementation.

Conclusion

The “1st Railsponsible On-site Workshop 2024” was a testament to the commitment of the Railsponsible initiative to foster sustainability in the railway sector. It provided a platform for stakeholders to come together, share best practices, and develop strategies that align with global sustainability standards. We extend our gratitude to all participants for their active contributions and look forward to continue working towards our collective goals for a more sustainable future in rail.

We recently concluded our third onsite workshop at Wabtec’s facility in Piossasco, and it was an enlightening experience.

Railsponsible is delighted to announce the 2023 Supplier Award recipient, Interface Deutschland GmbH, at the 2023 Railway Forum in Berlin. Interface, a commercial flooring enterprise and global leader in sustainability is a certified Carbon Neutral Enterprise.  The company has an impactful commitment to climate change that Railsponsible has chosen to recognise. 

In focus this year was the difficult challenge of scope 3 emissions upstream, Leading the way: Management of Scope 3 emissions upstream.

Interface is an excellent role model that leads by example.  Interface has committed to reducing absolute Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services by 50% and to reducing emissions from business travel and employee commuting by 30% by 2030.