Norfolk Southern launches RailGreen to cut supply-chain emissions for freight-rail customers

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced March 31 the launch of RailGreen, a first-of-its-kind solution enabling customers to reduce emissions from their freight-rail shipments.

RailGreen makes Norfolk Southern the only freight railroad in the world to offer verified certificates for supply-chain emissions reduction.

Shipping by rail versus truck reduces emissions 75 percent on average.

Freight customers can address the remaining 25 percent of emissions through RailGreen.

Emissions within a company’s supply chain are one of the hardest to track and tackle.

Developed in collaboration with 123Carbon, a leading, independent platform for book and claim, RailGreen makes it possible.

“Rail is already the most sustainable way to transport goods over land,” said Ed Elkins, Norfolk Southern’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “RailGreen takes emissions savings to the next level. 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, transparent way to reduce emissions

The RailGreen process uses 123Carbon’s blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates 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.

“We are proud to partner with Norfolk Southern to deliver verified, transparent emissions reduction to the freight-rail industry,” said Jeroen van Heiningen, the managing director of 123Carbon. “RailGreen represents a groundbreaking shift by providing real, measurable supply chain decarbonization for freight rail. Our blockchain-backed EACs ensure every ton of reduced CO2e is uniquely tracked and accounted for, providing shippers with confidence and credibility needed to meet their sustainability goals.”

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 its locomotive emissions per gallon.

• Joining Clean Fuels Alliance America to further support the production and shipping of biofuel-created products and feedstock.

• Elevating its 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.