Resource conservation
Management approach and targets
In the track infrastructure, there is a very high demand for resources in our upstream value-added chain, particularly as a result of our construction activities.
We aim to establish a circular economy by 2040, with a particular focus on Germany.
For us, circular economy means using raw materials sparingly, keeping them in the value-added chain for as long as possible and – where technically and legally possible – recycling our waste in order to reduce the need for primary raw materials and the volume of waste. This means that technically necessary primary raw materials still flow into the input and waste is recycled in the output, provided this is legally and technically possible. This also contributes to a reduction in our Scope 3 emissions.
We require large quantities of materials for the maintenance and expansion of our infrastructure – mainly rail steel, track ballast and concrete ties. Our demand for the primary raw materials required for this contributes to the consumption of non-renewable resources. According to our own analysis, these three main resources account for about 75% of the weight of our total material input (in DB Group in Germany).
We want to significantly increase the share of recycled materials in the coming years and have set ourselves binding targets for 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%
We also want to maintain our recycling rate at a very high level of at least 95%. In the construction and maintenance of our track infrastructure in particular and related to our vehicle fleet, we produce waste that contains valuable resources such as metals and mineral building materials. Most of these are already being recycled today and are, therefore, still available to the economic cycle.
Material cycle – Input resource management
| Use of materials in track infrastructure | 2024 | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| absolute | % | ||||
| Rail steel (thousand t) | 247.1 | 280.4 | –33.3 | –11.9 | 259.0 |
| Recycling share 1) (%) | 25.6 | 24.9 | +0.7 | – | – |
| Track ballast (thousand t) | 3,236 | 3,880 | –644 | –16.6 | 3,471 |
| Recycling share (%) | 11.1 | 12.0 | –0.9 | – | 11.4 |
| Concrete ties (thousand) | 3,053 | 3,475 | –422 | –12.1 | 2,089 |
| Recycling share (%) | 8.5 | 8.7 | –0.2 | – | 13.3 |
Period shown until 2023: October 1 to September 30.
1) Data collection process for rail steel recycling share established in 2023.
For the rail network, we are adopting measures to reduce the need for new materials and to keep used materials in the value-added chain for as long as possible. To that end, we have established material cycles for track ballast No. 51 and concrete ties No. 73:
- In 2024, 2.7 million t (previous year: 3.2 million t) of worn track ballast were removed from the track network, cleaned, sharpened or replaced. The stones are reprocessed for internal use into recycled ballast or for further use as split or crushing sand for road construction. This is done either directly on-site using mobile treatment plants or in external, certified facilities. This significantly reduces the amount of new ballast required and the associated transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. In 2024, for example, 1.2 million t (previous year: 1.6 million t) of track ballast was cleaned as part of ballast cleaning, which depends on the maintenance volume and involves picking up, sieving, cleaning and returning ballast to the track, about half of which, 0.6 million t (previous year: 0.8 million t), was returned directly to the track network. In conjunction with HTW Dresden, TU Munich, EBA and plant manufacturers, we have been investigating a new process for the more gentle processing of track ballast since 2023. This is aimed at increasing the share of recycled track ballast. In 2024, the necessary laboratory tests to prove the effectiveness of the process were successfully completed. This paves the way for the two-year operational trial of the track ballast prepared in this way. The share of recycled track ballast has decreased. This is due to additional costs for the procurement of recycled track ballast and the reduction in supply on the market as a result of changes in the legal framework. The introduction of the Federal Substitute Building Materials Ordinance led to a shortage of laboratory capacity due to increased analysis requirements and to restraint on the part of both processing companies and their clients. The reduced supply of recycled track ballast resulted in increased orders for new ballast and thus reduced the share of recycled track ballast.
- About 240,000 reconditioned concrete ties were installed in the track network (previous year: about 300,000 concrete ties). In 2024, about 645,000 t of unusable concrete ties were removed (previous year: about 532,000 t). The changes are mainly due to the defective concrete ties replacement program. Where permissible, concrete ties are reconditioned for reuse in the track network. Concrete ties that are not suitable for this are recycled by certified disposal companies and used for other applications, such as road or path construction. The blocking of concrete ties of certain production years from selected companies for reconditioning has led to a reduction in the potential initial quantity suitable for recycling. Furthermore, the defective concrete tie replacement program has increased the quantity of new concrete ties as a share of the total concrete sleepers used and thus reduced the share of recycled ties.
Recycling rate - output resource management
Within the scope of our environmental management system No. 131 in accordance with DIN ISO 14001, clear regulations regarding the circular economy have been defined for DB Group in Germany. For example, when materials and substances are no longer needed, we check whether they can be recycled and how they leave DB Group. We are basically a waste producer, which means that we control and take active responsibility for implementing legally compliant and environmentally friendly waste disposal via third parties all the way through to final disposal. For external waste disposal services, specialist waste disposal companies are commissioned that have the relevant waste management and economic expertise in accordance with Section 56 (2) of the Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz; KrwG). All waste generated in DB Group that is fed into waste disposal in accordance with existing disposal agreements or within the scope of the municipal supply obligation applicable in Germany is taken into account.
| Total Waste and recycling rate | 2024 | 2023 | Change | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| absolute | % | ||||
| Waste (total) (thousand t) | 8,182 | 7,904 | +278 | +3.5 | 8,112 |
| Recycling rate (%) | 96.0 | 96.7 | –0.7 | – | 96.9 |
Period from October 1 to September 30.
DB Cargo AG is the only part of the DB Cargo business unit included. The waste is generated by our own activities and is managed by third parties outside DB Group.
Figures for 2023 and 2022 adjusted due to the reclassification of DB Schenker.
In 2024, 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 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Recycling rate (%) | 96.7 | >95 |
We want to maintain the recycling rate at a high level in 2025.