Industry-first program cuts supply chain emissions for freight rail customers
Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) has launched RailGreen, a groundbreaking program that enables customers to reduce emissions from their freight rail shipments through verified certificates. The initiative makes NSC the first freight railroad globally to offer verified supply chain emissions reduction certificates.
Rail transport already reduces emissions by 75% compared to trucks, and RailGreen addresses the remaining 25%. Developed with 123Carbon, the program uses blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates to ensure transparent tracking of CO₂e reductions. As customers purchase certificates, NSC increases its biofuel usage across operations.
The company has already more than doubled its biofuel consumption since 2022 to reduce locomotive emissions. The program is scalable across multiple lanes in Norfolk Southern's network, allowing shippers to implement sustainable solutions throughout their rail freight operations.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) ha lanciato RailGreen, un programma innovativo che consente ai clienti di ridurre le emissioni delle loro spedizioni ferroviarie merci attraverso certificati verificati. Questa iniziativa rende NSC la prima ferrovia merci al mondo a offrire certificati di riduzione delle emissioni della catena di approvvigionamento verificati.
Il trasporto ferroviario riduce già le emissioni del 75% rispetto ai camion, e RailGreen affronta il restante 25%. Sviluppato con 123Carbon, il programma utilizza certificati di attributo ambientale supportati dalla blockchain per garantire un tracciamento trasparente delle riduzioni di CO₂e. Man mano che i clienti acquistano certificati, NSC aumenta il suo utilizzo di biocarburanti nelle operazioni.
L'azienda ha già più che raddoppiato il suo consumo di biocarburanti dal 2022 per ridurre le emissioni delle locomotive. Il programma è scalabile su più linee nella rete di Norfolk Southern, consentendo ai trasportatori di implementare soluzioni sostenibili in tutte le loro operazioni di trasporto ferroviario merci.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) ha lanzado RailGreen, un programa innovador que permite a los clientes reducir las emisiones de sus envíos de carga ferroviaria a través de certificados verificados. Esta iniciativa convierte a NSC en el primer ferrocarril de carga a nivel mundial en ofrecer certificados verificados de reducción de emisiones en la cadena de suministro.
El transporte ferroviario ya reduce las emisiones en un 75% en comparación con los camiones, y RailGreen aborda el 25% restante. Desarrollado junto a 123Carbon, el programa utiliza Certificados de Atributos Ambientales respaldados por blockchain para garantizar un seguimiento transparente de las reducciones de CO₂e. A medida que los clientes compran certificados, NSC incrementa su uso de biocombustibles en sus operaciones.
La empresa ya ha más que duplicado su consumo de biocombustibles desde 2022 para reducir las emisiones de locomotoras. El programa es escalable a través de múltiples rutas en la red de Norfolk Southern, permitiendo a los transportistas implementar soluciones sostenibles en todas sus operaciones de carga ferroviaria.
노퍽 서던 (NYSE: NSC)은 고객이 화물 철도 선적에서 배출량을 줄일 수 있도록 하는 혁신적인 프로그램인 RailGreen을 출시했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 NSC를 전 세계에서 인증된 공급망 배출 감소 인증서를 제공하는 최초의 화물 철도로 만듭니다.
철도 운송은 이미 트럭에 비해 75%의 배출량을 줄이고 있으며, RailGreen은 나머지 25%를 다룹니다. 123Carbon과 함께 개발된 이 프로그램은 CO₂e 감소의 투명한 추적을 보장하기 위해 블록체인 기반의 환경 속성 인증서를 사용합니다. 고객이 인증서를 구매함에 따라 NSC는 운영 전반에 걸쳐 바이오 연료 사용을 증가시킵니다.
회사는 이미 2022년 이후로 기관차 배출량을 줄이기 위해 바이오 연료 소비를 두 배 이상 늘렸습니다. 이 프로그램은 노퍽 서던 네트워크의 여러 노선에 걸쳐 확장 가능하며, 배송업체가 모든 철도 화물 운영에서 지속 가능한 솔루션을 구현할 수 있도록 합니다.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) a lancé RailGreen, un programme révolutionnaire qui permet aux clients de réduire les émissions de leurs expéditions ferroviaires de fret grâce à des certificats vérifiés. Cette initiative fait de NSC le premier chemin de fer de fret au monde à offrir des certificats de réduction d'émissions de chaîne d'approvisionnement vérifiés.
Le transport ferroviaire réduit déjà les émissions de 75 % par rapport aux camions, et RailGreen s'attaque aux 25 % restants. Développé avec 123Carbon, le programme utilise des certificats d'attribut environnemental basés sur la blockchain pour garantir un suivi transparent des réductions de CO₂e. Au fur et à mesure que les clients achètent des certificats, NSC augmente son utilisation de biocarburants dans ses opérations.
L'entreprise a déjà plus que doublé sa consommation de biocarburants depuis 2022 pour réduire les émissions des locomotives. Le programme est évolutif sur plusieurs lignes du réseau de Norfolk Southern, permettant aux expéditeurs de mettre en œuvre des solutions durables dans l'ensemble de leurs opérations de fret ferroviaire.
Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) hat RailGreen ins Leben gerufen, ein bahnbrechendes Programm, das es Kunden ermöglicht, die Emissionen ihrer Frachtzugsendungen durch verifizierte Zertifikate zu reduzieren. Diese Initiative macht NSC zur ersten Frachtbahn weltweit, die verifizierte Zertifikate zur Reduzierung von Emissionen in der Lieferkette anbietet.
Der Schienenverkehr reduziert bereits die Emissionen um 75% im Vergleich zu Lkw, und RailGreen adressiert die verbleibenden 25%. In Zusammenarbeit mit 123Carbon wurde das Programm entwickelt, das blockchain-gestützte Umweltattributzertifikate verwendet, um eine transparente Nachverfolgung der CO₂e-Reduktionen zu gewährleisten. Wenn Kunden Zertifikate erwerben, erhöht NSC den Einsatz von Biokraftstoffen in seinen Betrieben.
Das Unternehmen hat seinen Biokraftstoffverbrauch seit 2022 bereits mehr als verdoppelt, um die Emissionen von Lokomotiven zu reduzieren. Das Programm ist auf mehreren Strecken im Netzwerk von Norfolk Southern skalierbar und ermöglicht es den Versendern, nachhaltige Lösungen in ihren gesamten Frachtverkehrsoperationen umzusetzen.
- First-mover advantage in verified emissions reduction certificates for rail freight
- More than doubled biofuel consumption since 2022, reducing locomotive emissions
- Scalable program across multiple network lanes, expanding revenue potential
- Third-party validated certification system enhancing program credibility
- Significant investment required in biofuel infrastructure and certification systems
- Program success depends on customer adoption and willingness to pay for certificates
Insights
Norfolk Southern's launch of RailGreen represents a strategic competitive advantage in the freight transportation sector where sustainability initiatives are increasingly influencing customer decisions. The program cleverly creates a new revenue stream by monetizing the existing
What makes this particularly significant is the first-mover advantage in the freight rail industry. By establishing themselves as the only railroad offering verified emissions reduction certificates, Norfolk Southern creates a differentiator that competitors will struggle to replicate quickly. The partnership with 123Carbon adds credibility through blockchain verification, preventing greenwashing concerns that often plague sustainability initiatives.
The program's genius lies in its self-reinforcing mechanism: as certificate purchases increase, Norfolk Southern commits to expanding biofuel usage across its network. This creates a virtuous cycle where revenue growth directly funds operational sustainability improvements. For customers facing increasing pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions (supply chain), RailGreen offers a verified solution to an otherwise difficult-to-address problem.
For investors, this represents both defensive positioning against potential future carbon regulations and offensive strategy to capture market share from sustainability-focused shippers, particularly those moving from truck to rail for environmental benefits.
Shipping by rail versus truck reduces emissions
"Rail is already the most sustainable way to transport goods over land. RailGreen takes emissions savings to the next level," said Ed Elkins, Norfolk Southern EVP & Chief Commercial Officer. "RailGreen reduces customers' emissions, increases our biofuel use and solves a long-term industry challenge."
How RailGreen works
- Norfolk Southern's biofuel use is third-party certified, generating RailGreen certificates.
- Customers can purchase these certificates to apply toward their supply chain emissions.
- As customers purchase certificates, Norfolk Southern acquires more low-carbon biofuel for use across its operations.
RailGreen is designed to be scalable across multiple lanes in Norfolk Southern's network, allowing shippers to integrate sustainable solutions wherever they move freight on rail. Shippers, logistics providers, and supply chain leaders can take advantage of this industry-first program by visiting norfolksouthern.com/railgreen.
Verified and transparent way to reduce emissions
The RailGreen process uses 123Carbon's blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) to certify that each ton of reduced CO₂e is uniquely tracked to prevent double counting.
End-to-end transparency ensures certificates verify the chain of custody across fuel providers, rail carriers, freight forwarders, and cargo owners. Third-party validation by independent assurance partners verifies carbon-reducing activities against international standards.
Jeroen Van Heningen, Managing Director, 123Carbon said: "We are proud to partner with Norfolk Southern to deliver verified, transparent emissions reduction to the freight rail industry. RailGreen represents a groundbreaking shift by providing real, measurable supply chain decarbonization for freight rail. Our blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates ensure every ton of reduced CO₂e is uniquely tracked and accounted for, providing shippers with confidence and credibility needed to meet their sustainability goals."
Norfolk Southern's commitment to sustainable fuels
RailGreen is part of Norfolk Southern's broader commitment to advancing low-carbon freight solutions including its support of biofuels. Those efforts include:
- More than doubling biofuel consumption from 2022 to reduce our locomotive emissions per gallon.
- Joining the Clean Fuels Alliance America to further support the production and shipping of biofuel-created products and feedstock.
- Elevating our connection with biofuels with increased transport of both biofuels and feedstocks.
- Using fuel-efficiency technologies to optimize locomotive performance and customer reporting.
- Launching and enhancing nature-based and community-driven programs to boost sustainability efforts.
About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the
About 123 Carbon
With over 50 global users, 123Carbon is the first independent platform for book & claim. It supports fuel suppliers, fleet operators, forwarders and cargo owners in the issuance, management and transfer of Environmental Attribute Certificates (EAC's) across all modalities and all technologies, including SAF. Next to the central registry, 123Carbon also offers a private Book & Claim solution that SAF suppliers and airlines can use to allocate company-branded SAF certificates to their customers in a private environment. This is also regarded as a critical instrument for forwarders that operate across different transport modes and are seeking a single solution to allocate their environmental benefits.
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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation
FAQ
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