Jan Grothe
President
About us
Meet us
About Railsponsible
Railsponsible is an industry-wide initiative focused on making sustainable procurement the standard in the railway sector. Our goal is to continuously improve sustainability practices throughout the entire supply chain – from operators and OEMs to suppliers and industry associations.
We provide a neutral platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the development of common standards. By working together, our members aim to reduce environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and support the transition to a climate-friendly railway system.
Vision
Railsponsible is an industry initiative dedicated to sustainable procurement throughout the railway sector supply chain. Its mission is to address the challenges of sustainability and climate protection, setting the course for the future and benefiting future generations. According to Jan Grothe, President of Railsponsible and CPO of DB, Railsponsible recognizes the importance of finding the best possible result where ecology and economy intersect, while ensuring the viability of procurement activities. This requires ambitious approaches and significant efforts across the entire supply chain, which can only be achieved through collaboration with suppliers and partners. Railsponsible serves as an exchange platform, facilitating the achievement of sustainability goals and enabling the development of climate-friendly mobility solutions for tomorrow.
History
Railsponsible was founded in 2015 as a sector-wide initiative aimed at promoting sustainability within the railway sector. This collaborative effort brought together leading companies in the rail industry to address environmental, social, and ethical challenges in a concerted manner. Railsponsible’s history is marked by its commitment to responsible business practices, fostering innovation, and driving positive change in the railway sector. Over the years, Railsponsible has played a pivotal role in raising awareness, sharing best practices, and driving sustainability initiatives, making it a significant force in the industry’s journey towards a more sustainable future.
Governance
Railsponsible is governed by its presidents and the General Assembly, where the top decision-makers from the member companies meet several times per year.
The current Presidents are:
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Jan Grothe (CPO at DB)
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Jeroen Alting von Geusau (Head of Sustainable Development & CSR at SNCB-NMBS)
Other members of the board include:
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Cristina Bodegas Canora (CPO at Talgo) – Secretary
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Simon Roth (CPO at SBB) – Treasurer
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Rory Lamont (CPO at Siemens Mobility) – Board Member for Growth
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Katarina Wising (Head of Rail EMEA at SKF) – Board Member for Suppliers
These leaders work together to guide Railsponsible’s mission to drive sustainability and responsibility within the rail industry.
Mission and Vision
Our Mission
Railsponsible unites companies across the global railway sector with one clear ambition: to make sustainability a core principle in procurement. We bring together operators, OEMs, suppliers, and industry associations to turn shared values into measurable action. Our work focuses on creating real impact – from reducing environmental footprints and fostering social responsibility to strengthening collaboration throughout the supply chain.
By acting as a neutral platform, we help members exchange knowledge, align on standards, and jointly address the challenges of climate protection. This spirit of collaboration is reflected in the perspectives of our leadership, who highlight both the urgency and the opportunity for the rail industry to lead by example in building a climate-friendly future.
No single company can solve the challenges of sustainability alone. The railway sector has always been strongest when we work together — across operators, manufacturers, and suppliers. Through Railsponsible, we build a common foundation, share knowledge, and set joint standards that go far beyond what any one of us could achieve individually. This spirit of collaboration and our solution-oriented approach is what will allow us to shape a truly sustainable railway sector and contribute to climate-friendly mobility for future generations.
President of Railsponsible and CPO at DB
Sustainability is about the future of our children. What is the world which I want to pass on to the next generation. Our use of resources and pollution we create all around the world is something we should worry about. And finding solutions we can only do side by side, together. Therefore Railsponsible has an important mission. How can we act in our supply chain and together set standards so that the next generation has a more beautiful planet.I strongly believe that we should act, and act together to get success. The railway sector is partly the solution in climate friendly mobility and at the same time should play an active role to improve its supply chain environmental impact.
Vice-President of Railsponsible and Head of CSR at SNBC
Presidency
Governance
Jeroen Alting von Geusau
Vice-President
Christina Bodegas
Secretary
Simon Roth
Treasurer
Rory Lamont
Board Member - Growth
Katarina Wising
Board Member - Supplier
facilitated by
H&Z: Consulting with head, heart and hand.
Railsponsible is facilitated by H&Z, an international management consultancy known for combining strategic expertise with a human-centric approach. H&Z supports organizations in developing and implementing transformation programs that deliver measurable, sustainable results.
With deep expertise in Strategy, Transformation, Sustainability, and Procurement, H&Z has built a strong reputation across industries, including rail. The consultancy has been repeatedly recognized as a market leader – most recently named Hidden Champion in multiple categories – reflecting its ability to deliver impact in complex, global environments.
H&Z’s role within Railsponsible is to provide structure, facilitation, and strategic guidance, enabling members to collaborate effectively and turn sustainability ambitions into tangible outcomes for the railway sector.
associated with
SUSTAINX: The sustainability network.
SUSTAINX connects sustainability experts worldwide, facilitating dialogue and collaborative problem-solving to address sustainability challenges. The community built by SUSTAINX allows sustainability experts from around the globe to connect and share experiences, discuss pressing sustainability challenges, and collectively craft robust sustainability solutions. It offers an innovative digital space where ideas are exchanged, challenges are confronted, and meaningful partnerships are forged.
Founded in 2021, SUSTAINX offers a community designed explicitly for sustainability specialists in collaboration with Osapiens. As a global beacon for sustainability, it serves as a comprehensive and interactive hub where users can stay up to date with the latest sustainability news and gain insightful knowledge about current best practices, innovative solutions, and valuable sustainability studies.