Deutsche Bahn’s (DB) CEO announced ambitious new recycling targets for 2030 at its Sustainability Forum in Berlin.
In an attempt to protect key resources such as concrete and steel, DB plans to bring its use of recycled rail steel up to 45% – double the current target.
It also plans to triple its use of recycled track ballast, by bringing the percentage it uses up to 40% by 2030.
With this increased use of recycled materials, DB plans to save at least 300,000 tonnes of CO2 and around ten million tonnes of new materials.
“DB is continuing to drive forward with its green transformation and is setting clear goals for resource protection.
“By increasing the proportion of recycling in our main resources of rail steel, track ballast and concrete sleepers, were taking a big step towards recycling management, because these account for around 80 percent of the total use of resources at DB.”
By 2040, DB aims to have established a completely circular economy within the organisation and to have become climate neutral.
This will be made possible by the growth of green electricity and the company’s move away from diesel.
By 2025, the rail company plans to supply all its German plants, office buildings and train stations entirely with green electricity and it aims to convert all traction current to 100% green electricity by 2038.
Back in 2018, DB announced it would obtain 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
