Management approach and targets
Every year, more resources are used worldwide than nature can regenerate in the same period. We have an increased need for resources due to our construction activities. For us, this means we need to use raw materials carefully, keeping them in the value chain for as long as possible and recycling our waste whenever possible. As part of an environmental analysis conducted by us in 2020, the great importance of resource protection was confirmed by our stakeholders. Within various formats of our stakeholder dialog, we inform our stakeholders about our targets, measures and their progress in the area of resource protection.
We are striving to achieve a complete circular economy throughout DB Group by 2040, with a special focus on the Integrated Rail System. Our particular focus is on the increasing use of recycled materials and renewable raw materials. Our procured products should also have maximum recyclability. To this end, we will significantly increase the recycling proportions in the products we procure by 2030 compared to 2019. In 2022, we set binding targets for our central resources (track ballast, concrete ties and rail steel), which represent around 80% of the total material used in the Integrated Rail System, in order to consistently increase their recycling share. In addition, we will maintain our recycling rate at a high level of at least 95%.
In this way, we make a contribution to future generations, by utilizing resource protection measures to avoid supply risks and actively protect commodities. In addition, as Europe’s largest rail infrastructure company, our resource protection targets are an important stimulus for a circular economy overall. The data for our use of resources is collected by DB Netz AG using technical systems.
In addition, we will have a more comprehensive overview of our use of resources by building a transparent web of data. In order to drive the development of recycled and recyclable products, we are expanding and intensifying our cooperative collaboration with suppliers. Through our active involvement in national and international associations and committees such as the BDI, Eurospec and the UIC, we have already networked with various players on the topic of circular economy.
By 2030, we will be significantly increasing the proportion of recycling in our main resources, which make up around 80% of our consumption.
Period: October 1 to September 30.
* 2019 dataset, database expansion expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
