Policies (E4-2)

The new construction and expansion of rail tracks are associated with direct interventions in natural landscapes, and are therefore material topics for DB Group. Land use for transport infrastructure results in changes in land use that lead to the fragmentation and impairment of habitats for animal and plant species, and can therefore have an impact on the state of biodiversity and the extent and functionality of ecosystems. DB Group applies guidelines in order to counteract the social and environmental impacts of these interventions.

Responsibility for implementing the policies lies with the project management of the respective infrastructure project.

Compliance with the plans defined by the guides and guidelines is ensured by the environmental construction supervisors. This is an independent supervisory body appointed by the project management. The environmental construction supervisors are active throughout all construction phases, from construction preparation to completion.

EBA guides

The Federal Railway Authority’s (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt; EBA) environmental guides bundle requirements and procedures for the systematic consideration of environmental issues in rail infrastructure projects in order to avoid negative impacts on habitats, animal and plant species and humans. The guides are used in planning approval and permit procedures in accordance with section 18 of the General Railways Act (Allgemeines Eisenbahngesetz; AEG) and in the assessment and implementation of environmental concerns in the new construction, expansion and conversion of rail tracks and facilities under the responsibility of the EBA in Germany. In the course of the planning approval and permit procedures, the public is also consulted on project-specific and environmental issues. The guides support the legally compliant, technically sound and uniform processing of environmentally relevant issues, particularly in nature, species and area protection, and promote the early integration of environmental concerns in planning and approval. At the same time, they help to simplify and speed up procedures. In DB Group, the specifications of the EBA environmental guides, which are based on national and European law, are used to implement the protection of areas adjacent to rail tracks. The specific implementation of these protection requirements is described in detail in the DB guidelines on the implementation of infrastructure measures and landscape conservation.

Guideline on the implementation of infrastructure measures

The guideline on the implementation of infrastructure measures implements the requirements of the EBA guides operationally. It regulates the entire planning and implementation process as well as the documentation of infrastructure measures in the rail sector and covers areas owned by DB Group and the Federal Government as well as leased or rented areas. Special emphasis is placed on the consideration of environmental planning and nature conservation throughout all planning and execution phases. One key objective is to develop a planning concept that combines technical, operational, economic and environmentally friendly solutions. The Environmental Impact Assessment (Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung; UVP) is used as a central instrument within the framework of the guideline. Among other things, it takes into account people and their health as a protected interest. Compensation and replacement measures take place in the event of unavoidable interventions in nature.

Guideline on landscape conservation

The guideline on landscape conservation helps to meet the protection requirements for areas along rail tracks in accordance with the statutory provisions. In this way, it specifies the conservation-related requirements of the EBA guides and translates them into operational specifications for vegetation control along rail tracks. The aim of the guideline on landscape conservation is to promote nature conservation and species protection through vegetation control measures and to ensure legally compliant action in landscape planning for new construction, expansion, demolition and conversion measures, while at the same time ensuring operational safety in rail operations. The measures are carried out on land owned by DB Group and on leased or rented land. The implementation of vegetation control measures takes into account national and European legislation and is supported by the specifications of the EBA environmental guides.

Code of Conduct for Business Partners

The basis for sustainability-oriented procurement decisions and for the sustainable orientation of our supply chains is provided by our DB Code of Conduct for Business Partners and our procurement policy. Our Code of Conduct for Business Partners establishes a clear framework for sustainable action in the supply chain. It sets out requirements for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, human health and the protection of soil and water, particularly in the context of food and drinking water production, thereby making a preventive contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems. By signing it, our business partners are obliged, among other things, not to cause any harmful soil or water pollution and to take measures to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

This is particularly relevant with regard to the extraction of raw materials required for the production of building materials such as concrete, steel or aluminum, which in turn are used for our rail infrastructure and vehicles. This can lead to changes in land use, for example through the conversion of natural ecosystems into mining areas. Interventions such as deforestation or the pollution of natural waters can have a significant impact on the condition of species and ecosystems. The risk analyses prescribed by the LkSG can provide selective information on the origin of risky materials. However, these measures do not constitute systematic technical traceability. Further information on the DB Code of Conduct for Business Partners can be found under Policies (S2-1).

In addition, a complaints mechanism has been established to address human rights and environmental concerns along the supply chain, including those relating to biodiversity and ecosystems.