Resource conservation

In order to minimize emissions from the growth in construction activity on the rail network, we are increasingly relying on low-emissions building materials. In this way, we are contributing to our climate protection targets while also laying the foundations for the establishment of a circular economy within DB Group.

In order to conserve primary resources and reduce emissions, we want to increase the share of recycled materials in our building materials, especially for our main resources of rail steel, track ballast No. 51 and concrete ties No. 73, which collectively account for about 75% of the weight of our total material input (in Germany). At the same time, we want to keep the recycling rate for all waste at a minimum of 95%.

DB Group is aiming to establish a circular economy by 2040 – subject to economic, legal and technological requirements. In this way, we are scrutinizing our value chain from procurement through operational use to disposal. Our aim is to use production equipment and products and the resources they contain sparingly and to preserve them for as long as possible. This also contributes to the reduction in our Scope 3 emissions.