Norfolk Southern Launches RailGreen to Revolutionize Freight Rail Emissions Reduction
In an era where sustainability is increasingly at the forefront of business decisions, Norfolk Southern Corporation has taken a remarkable step in the freight transportation industry. On March 31, 2025, the company unveiled RailGreen, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help customers significantly reduce emissions associated with their freight rail shipments. This revolutionary program makes Norfolk Southern the only railroad company globally to offer verified certificates focused on supply chain emissions reduction.
The Challenge of Emissions in Supply Chains
Transportation emissions constitute a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, and understanding how to mitigate these emissions is critical for businesses looking to meet their sustainability goals. While shifting freight from truck to rail already leads to an average emissions reduction of about 75%, the remaining 25% of emissions represent a complex challenge that many industries struggle to tackle. RailGreen addresses this challenge by enabling freight customers to manage and reduce their emissions through a verified certification process.
How RailGreen Works
RailGreen is developed in partnership with 123Carbon, a leading platform for environmental attribute claims. At its core, the initiative leverages biofuels, which are third-party certified, allowing Norfolk Southern to generate RailGreen certificates. Customers purchasing these certificates can apply them towards their overall supply chain emissions, thus incentivizing the use of lower carbon alternatives.
As customers engage with this program, Norfolk Southern’s commitment to sourcing low-carbon biofuels will also expand, enhancing their operational sustainability. The scalability of RailGreen across Norfolk Southern's vast freight network signifies that this solution can be seamlessly integrated into their existing transportation routes, promoting sustainable logistics on a broader scale.
Transparency and Verification
One of the key features of RailGreen is its use of 123Carbon's blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs). This technology provides end-to-end transparency, ensuring that every ton of CO₂ emissions reduced is uniquely monitored to prevent double accounting. Customers can have full confidence in the integrity of the emissions reductions they are claiming, as each certificate verifies the chain of custody—from fuel providers and rail carriers to freight forwarders and cargo owners. Third-party validation by independent auditors further solidifies the program's credibility against international standards.
Jeroen Van Heningen, Managing Director at 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."
Norfolk Southern's Broader Commitment
RailGreen is just one piece of Norfolk Southern's comprehensive strategy toward fostering sustainable freight solutions. The corporation has committed to increasing its biofuel consumption significantly and has become a member of the Clean Fuels Alliance America. Initiatives are underway to elevate the transport of biofuels and to employ fuel-efficient technologies that optimize locomotive performance.
These efforts not only focus on environmental responsibility but enhance the overall efficiency of freight services, demonstrating that sustainable practices can align with operational excellence.
Try exploring Norfolk Southern’s website at norfolksouthern.com/railgreen to learn more about how you can participate in this transformative movement toward reducing freight emissions, benefitting both the planet and the economy. As businesses continue to integrate sustainability into their operations, RailGreen represents a significant advance in the freight rail industry, helping redefine how goods are transported while minimizing environmental impacts.
In conclusion, Norfolk Southern’s RailGreen initiative reflects a pioneering approach in the freight industry, merging innovation with sustainability. By empowering customers to address their supply chain emissions transparently, it's not just a step towards a greener future; it's the future of freight logistics.
The Challenge of Emissions in Supply Chains
Transportation emissions constitute a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions, and understanding how to mitigate these emissions is critical for businesses looking to meet their sustainability goals. While shifting freight from truck to rail already leads to an average emissions reduction of about 75%, the remaining 25% of emissions represent a complex challenge that many industries struggle to tackle. RailGreen addresses this challenge by enabling freight customers to manage and reduce their emissions through a verified certification process.
How RailGreen Works
RailGreen is developed in partnership with 123Carbon, a leading platform for environmental attribute claims. At its core, the initiative leverages biofuels, which are third-party certified, allowing Norfolk Southern to generate RailGreen certificates. Customers purchasing these certificates can apply them towards their overall supply chain emissions, thus incentivizing the use of lower carbon alternatives.
As customers engage with this program, Norfolk Southern’s commitment to sourcing low-carbon biofuels will also expand, enhancing their operational sustainability. The scalability of RailGreen across Norfolk Southern's vast freight network signifies that this solution can be seamlessly integrated into their existing transportation routes, promoting sustainable logistics on a broader scale.
Transparency and Verification
One of the key features of RailGreen is its use of 123Carbon's blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs). This technology provides end-to-end transparency, ensuring that every ton of CO₂ emissions reduced is uniquely monitored to prevent double accounting. Customers can have full confidence in the integrity of the emissions reductions they are claiming, as each certificate verifies the chain of custody—from fuel providers and rail carriers to freight forwarders and cargo owners. Third-party validation by independent auditors further solidifies the program's credibility against international standards.
Jeroen Van Heningen, Managing Director at 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."
Norfolk Southern's Broader Commitment
RailGreen is just one piece of Norfolk Southern's comprehensive strategy toward fostering sustainable freight solutions. The corporation has committed to increasing its biofuel consumption significantly and has become a member of the Clean Fuels Alliance America. Initiatives are underway to elevate the transport of biofuels and to employ fuel-efficient technologies that optimize locomotive performance.
These efforts not only focus on environmental responsibility but enhance the overall efficiency of freight services, demonstrating that sustainable practices can align with operational excellence.
Try exploring Norfolk Southern’s website at norfolksouthern.com/railgreen to learn more about how you can participate in this transformative movement toward reducing freight emissions, benefitting both the planet and the economy. As businesses continue to integrate sustainability into their operations, RailGreen represents a significant advance in the freight rail industry, helping redefine how goods are transported while minimizing environmental impacts.
In conclusion, Norfolk Southern’s RailGreen initiative reflects a pioneering approach in the freight industry, merging innovation with sustainability. By empowering customers to address their supply chain emissions transparently, it's not just a step towards a greener future; it's the future of freight logistics.
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