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Resource conservation
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.
Material cycle – Input resource management
Our particular focus is on our main resources: track ballast, concrete ties and rail steel, which represent about 80% of the weight of total material used in the Integrated Rail System. Here, we have set binding targets and will increase recycling shares by 2030 compared to the base year 2019:
- Rail steel: from 25% to 45%
- Track ballast: from 13% to 40%
- Concrete ties: from 6% to 30%
Recycling rate
waste (total) and recycling rate | 2023 | 2022 | Change | 2021 | |
absolute | % | ||||
Waste (total) (thousand t) | 7,974 | 8,187 | –213 | –2.6 | 8,830 |
Recycling rate (%) | 96.5 | 96.7 | –0.2 | – | 96.2 |
Period from October 1 to September 30; DB Schenker January 1 to December 31 of the previous year.
Individual figures are rounded and therefore may not add up. DB Cargo AG is the only part of the DB Cargo business unit included. The waste has been generated through company activities and is managed by third parties outside DB Group.
In 2023, we again maintained our recycling rate at a high level of over 95%. Especially in the construction and maintenance of our track infrastructure and related to our vehicle fleet, we produce waste that contains valuable resources such as metals and mineral building materials. These are already predominantly recycled and continue to be available to the economic cycle.
Outlook
Anticipated development | 2023 | 2024 |
Recycling rate (%) | 96.5 | >95 |
We will continue to keep the recycling rate at a high level in 2024.