DB Schenker takes its responsibility for the environment very seriously. Sustainability is an integral part of the corporate philosophy, it is practiced and constantly being developed. In the development of their products and services, for example, the logistics specialists focus on innovation and invest in new environmentally sound logistics solutions and technologies.

And the rail freight carrier is particularly environment-friendly. With its rail freight operations, DB Schenker reduces the impact on the environment of over four million tons of CO2 each year compared with trucking services in the same period. DB Schenker also relieves the environment by using the most appropriate modal split, when combining the benefits of trucking, ocean freight, air freight and rail.

DB Schenker on silent tracks

In all business units, DB Schenker is reducing energy consumption and the emission of pollutants: the specific energy consumption of the rail freight carrier has been reduced by more than a third since 1990 due to modernized facilities, low-emission locomotive engines and higher working load of the trains.

But that's not all: DB Schenker is reducing rail freight noise levels with its “whisper brake” up to 10 decibel. The noise perceived is thereby reduced of about 50%. Since 2001 DB exclusively invests in rail freight carriers with “whisper brakes”.

Saving energy, while reducing emissions

Land transport is also determined to protect the environment: the multiple-stage hub system improves capacity utilization by bundling consignments to the logistics hubs based on the route taken and placing them on the appropriate truck. This means that DB Schenker can eliminate empty runs and thus reduces traffic on the roads.

DB SCHENKERskybridge is a product that combines the benefits of air freight with those of ocean freight. Compared with ocean freight alone, transport times have been halved as a result. The CO2 emissions of ocean-going vessels are only a small part of the CO2 emissions of airplanes.

Proving environmental management

Environmental management can be measured, with the result that today all DB Schenker country organizations in have received DIN ISO 14001 certification. The goal is have all the country organizations certified worldwide.

Transparency is also the aim of the carbon footprint: in this case, the carbon dioxide emissions of the individual transport modes are calculated to achieve the optimal relationship in terms of both ecological and economic considerations. What results is a so-called carbon footprint.

As a Deutsche Bahn customer, the customer has the possibility of calculating the carbon footprint of his own individual shipments. The Ecological Transport Information Tool (EcoTransIT) compares the environmental impact of shipments by rail, road, inland waterways, in the air and using intermodal services. This enables you to decide in favor of the most environment-friendly shipment.

Environmental protection – an image factor

As a company's environmental behavior is increasingly developing into a corporate image factor, DB Schenker is significantly improving your ecological performance. Deutsche Bahn's goal is now to bring about a reduction in specific CO2 emissions of at least a further 20 percent by 2020 compared to 2006.

Schenker AG’s environment report

The link here refers the user to the Environmental Report Schenker AG. The report includes Schenker AG’s carbon footprint validated compliant to ISO 14064-1. In addition, the report contains comprehensive information on Schenker AG’s variety of ecological activities and respective further perspektives.