InnoTrans 2018: RFI's commitment to sustainability

Berlin, 19 September 2018

Sustainability is one of the strategic levers that directs the development of the core business activities of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, a Ferrovie dello Stato Group company that manages the national railway network, ensuring safe traffic control, construction, and infrastructure maintenance.

RFI, in line with what is shared at the European level, through the Transportation White Paper, is committed to transferring a significant share of freight traffic by rail from other more polluting modes of transport. The aim is to stimulate the use of energy sources with a low environmental impact and to incentivise safe and accessible public transport within a single European transport area.

These are the topics at the centre of the round table on Sustainable Infrastructures, which was held today in Berlin during InnoTrans 2018, the international fair dedicated to rail transport.

"The commitment of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana - said Claudia Cattani, President of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana - is defined through diversified projects and programs, defined in the context of a specific environmental policy. An important role is given to the field of environmental efficiency in industrial processes, in terms of resource consumption and impact management, closely linked to the theme of global warming ".

Every year the Infrastructure Manager works to improve the values of the indicators related to energy consumption, CO2 emissions, waste sent for recovery/disposal, and water withdrawals.

Particular attention, in terms of sustainability, is being paid to the processes of evaluating suppliers with a view to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Thanks to the CSR Rating, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana monitors the performance of its entire supply chain according to the principles of sustainability. This way, offers from companies with the highest indices related to environment, social, ethics, and sustainable purchase factors are more highly valued.

Finally, thanks to joining the international Railsponsible program, RFI promotes collaboration with other companies in the railway sector, particularly in the phases of setting up and planning new assets and services.