Environment
Sustainability does not start at the factory gate – nor does it end there.
Those who produce today help shape how we will live tomorrow. The use of resources, the handling of emissions and the development of products are all part of social responsibility.
For us, this responsibility reflects our mindset: doing business with an eye on the bigger picture, in dialogue with stakeholders, and with a willingness to set measurable goals – and review them regularly.
To us, sustainability means two things: ensuring our own production is as efficient and climate-friendly as possible – and developing technologies that significantly reduce our customers’ carbon footprint.
Responsibility does not end at the factory gate. Global supply chains – the entire value chain from raw material extraction to the finished product – are a decisive lever for sustainable business.
For us, sustainable procurement means ensuring that our partners comply with environmental and social standards and that we identify risks early on before they cause damage.
This chapter shows how environmental, and climate protection is embedded in our processes as part of management, product strategy and everyday operations. With goals, with data, with measures. And with the ambition to learn from them.
Because we know that even with the best intentions, we leave traces behind. We are committed to keeping this footprint as small as possible.
Policy – Our Environmental Guidelines
Vossloh Rolling Stock is clearly committed to conserving resources and reducing emissions in its guidelines. Energy efficiency and the protection of natural resources are binding goals. Sustainability serves as a control variable for us both in our daily operations and at the strategic level.
To measure progress, we regularly record key performance indicators: CO₂ emissions, energy consumption and waste volumes. This data is evaluated internally and used to continuously improve our processes.
We have had our environmental management certified according to ISO 14001 and our energy management according to ISO 50001. These standards confirm that we manage energy and environmental issues in a structured manner and in accordance with internationally recognised guidelines.
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Action – Measures in Practice
Energy & Emissions
We implement our environmental goals through a multi-stage system that combines operational measures with strategic control. The central instrument here is our environmental management system, which clearly defines responsibilities, processes and key figures.
Specifically, we systematically record our CO₂ emissions according to Scope 1 (direct emissions from our own sources such as heating systems or company-owned vehicles) and Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity and district heating), regularly balance and evaluate energy consumption in production and administration, and document material flows and waste types. In this way, we reduce waste disposal volumes and increase the proportion of recycled materials.
Waste Management
Our waste management system requires us to record all types of waste, separate them for collection and keep records in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Waste Ordinance. This creates transparency regarding waste volumes and provides starting points for continuous improvement.
Supply Chain & Procurement
Clear requirements also apply along the supply chain : packaging regulations govern the use of recyclable materials, reusable packaging and the reduction of plastics. Suppliers are obliged to use recyclable materials, avoid plastics as far as possible and reuse wooden packaging.
The validity of the Code of Conduct is expressly stipulated in the framework purchasing agreement . In addition, it obliges business partners to observe further internal regulations. In the event of non-compliance, the agreement provides for sanctions and allows for extraordinary termination rights in the event of serious violations of environmental or social standards.
In practice, this means that new suppliers must sign the Code of Conduct, while existing partners are regularly reminded of their obligations.
Product Innovations
We do not see product innovations as an end in themselves, but as an effective lever for sustainability. Our locomotives enable our customers to reduce their environmental footprint while also cutting costs.
With the DE 18 and the Modula platform, we support operators in reducing emissions and operating costs – without any restrictions in use. The DE 18 complies with EU Stage V, is prepared for HVO biofuel in accordance with EN 15940 and can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 50% compared to diesel in accordance with EN 590. Optional efficiency features such as Eco Drive, Eco Mode and Start-Stop further increase the potential for savings. We also offer services throughout the entire life cycle of the locomotive.
The DE 18 SmartHybrid supplements the 1,800 kW diesel drive with a lithium-ion battery module (106 kWh; up to 8,000 cycles, service life 8–10 years). It enables locally emission-free and low-noise operation in sensitive areas, extends start-stop functions and can be charged both via external power (plug-in) and via the diesel engine.
The Modula platform has a modular design (e.g. EBB: electric drive + two large batteries; EDD: electric drive + two diesel engines; BDD: small battery + two diesel engines; BFC/fuel cell in development). The EBB variant combines overhead line operation with battery power, feeds braking energy back into the grid or battery, and is designed for high energy efficiency. It also supports condition-based, predictive maintenance with cloud data access. Standardised interfaces ensure upgradeability.
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Result – Initial Findings
The following values reflect not only efficiency measures, but also the varying utilisation rates of our plants. Higher production intensity inevitably leads to higher energy requirements, which limits the comparability of the annual values.
Energy & Emissions
The 2024 carbon footprint for Scope 1 (direct emissions from own sources such as heating systems or company-owned vehicles) totals 169.0 tonnes of CO₂ (diesel 119.5 tonnes, natural gas 49.6 tonnes). For Scope 2 (indirect emissions from purchased electricity and district heating), a further 1,028.4 tonnes of CO₂ were recorded (electricity 765.5 tonnes, district heating 262.9 tonnes). Total emissions thus amounted to 1,197.5 tonnes of CO₂. Compared to 2023, this represents a slight decrease in total emissions (2023: 1,218.5 tonnes of CO₂).
Electricity consumption rose from 1,632,469 kWh (2023) to 1,925,038 kWh (2024), which corresponds to an increase of around 18%.
District heating consumption was 1,718,262 kWh compared to 1,700,286 kWh in the previous year (+1%).
In addition, 246,524 kWh of natural gas and 449,400 kWh of diesel fuel were consumed (comparative figures from 2023 are not available for this).
Waste Management
In 2024, a total of 263.94 tonnes of waste was generated, of which 26.99 tonnes was hazardous waste (10.2%). The total amount thus increased compared to 2023 (222.8 tonnes), while the proportion of hazardous waste decreased slightly (2023: 31.4 tonnes or 14.1%). The recycling rate in 2024 was 87.86%. The separate collection rate for commercial municipal waste fell from 88.8% (2023) to 77.5% (2024).
Supply Chain & Procurement
In the area of sustainable procurement, the focus lies on implementing packaging regulations. Suppliers have been required to use recyclable materials, avoid plastics as far as possible and reuse wooden packaging. Initial results show that the requirements are being accepted, but full implementation continues to be closely monitored.
Product Innovations
With the DE 18, the SmartHybrid variant and the Modula platform, a further 2,024 vehicles were delivered in 2024 to help operators reduce emissions and operating costs. Preparation for the use of HVO biofuel and optional efficiency features such as Eco Drive, Eco Mode and Start-Stop show noticeable savings potential in practice. The SmartHybrid variant in particular enables locally emission-free operation in sensitive areas. Feedback from the field also confirms that the platform architecture facilitates upgrading and further development.
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Social
A company is not only what it produces, but also what it enables.
Social responsibility is not reflected in brochures, but in how people work, grow and are protected within the company.
It is about safety. About fair conditions. And about spaces where diversity is not an obstacle, but a potential.
Those who take responsibility seriously view working conditions not only as a cost factor, but as the basis for performance, belonging and long-term value creation.
For us, labour and human rights mean taking responsibility – for our employees as well as for all people along our supply chain. It is about protection, respect and participation: values that are internationally anchored and binding for us.
This requires attention, participation, and the willingness to embrace differences – physical abilities, cultural, and social.
This chapter shows how social responsibility is anchored at Vossloh Rolling Stock. And how we are working together to further develop these areas: step by step, with an open mind to what works and what is missing.
Policy – Our Self-Image
Fair working conditions and respectful cooperation are non-negotiable for us. Our company – like any other – thrives on the people who support and shape it. Their performance deserves protection, appreciation and participation.
The formal basis is provided by collective agreements (framework agreement and pay framework) as well as comprehensive works council agreements.
They ensure fair conditions for working hours, health protection, co-determination, pension provision, equal treatment and protection against discrimination.
All of this requires a culture of open communication – even when the conversations are uncomfortable. That is what we are working on, because only those who are heard can help shape the future.
Through our framework purchasing agreement, we ensure that our external partners also comply with these fundamental standards.
Action – Concrete measures
Occupational Safety & Health
We have established a comprehensive system for occupational health, safety, and preventive healthcare. It is based on company agreements, the Occupational Health Management Handbook and concrete action plans. Occupational Health Management (BGM) encompasses prevention, health promotion and continuous evaluation, documented in the annual report and supplemented by a folder of measures.
Regular safety training is just as much a part of this as the documentation of accidents. The results are incorporated into concrete improvements, while accident statistics are systematically recorded and regularly evaluated.
Participation & Culture
To promote an open and responsive corporate culture, we launched the formats Building Bridges and Bright Ideas. These formats provide spaces where employees are not only heard but also involved: anonymously, confidentially and with their own suggestions for improvement.
Building Bridges enables direct dialogue with management, while Bright Ideas turns this into concrete changes in everyday life. Both formats promote a culture in which feedback is welcome, and initiative is valued. Those who are allowed to contribute their ideas help shape the company – and those who see the impact gain confidence.
Development & Promotion
We offer structured training programmes, governed by the collective agreement on qualification. Beyond this, our NextGen Rail Leaders programme supports high-potential employees through individual development plans.
In addition to other benefits, we offer a special service to provide support in cases of financial hardship through no fault of the employee's own, the MaK Hilfsverein.
Rights & Protection
We safeguard the right to participation and co-determination through regular elections of the youth and trainee council as well as the works council, which plays an especially significant role at Vossloh Rolling Stock.
Protection against discrimination and harassment is set out in a dedicated reporting format that systematically documents incidents and makes preventive and remedial measures traceable.
Employees also have access to a complaints and whistleblower system, enabling them to report grievances anonymously and confidentially – without fear of reprisals.
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Result – Initial Results
Arbeitsschutz & Gesundheit
The annual occupational safety report documents that a wide range of measures were implemented in 2024, including safety training for employees, regular site inspections and meetings of the Occupational Safety Committee (ASA), a body that brings together employers, the works council, occupational safety specialists and company doctors to continuously improve occupational safety.
We are particularly proud that Vossloh Rolling Stock has been regularly awarded the Corporate Health Award for many years – including in 2024. In this external analysis, we were rated "above average" or "good" in several areas, including leadership, culture and occupational safety. With 94 out of 100 points in the Corporate Health Index, we achieved the excellence category and are thus one of the best companies in Germany in the field of occupational health management.
Participation & Culture
As the two projects Building Bridges and Bright Ideas have not been running long enough, we are not yet able to make reliable assessments. Starting with the next reporting year, however, we will include data on these projects – such as the number of suggestions submitted, their implementation rate, and the frequency of confidential feedback.
Rights & Protection
Percentage of women in top management: 17% (10 male, 2 female executives)
Across the entire company, around 6% of employees belong to minority or disadvantaged groups.
During the last reporting period, two specific reports of suspected misconduct were received, documented and followed up via the whistleblower system.
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