Strength that makes sustainability goals lighter

WE DELIVER WHAT MATTERS—SO YOU CAN TOO

Sustainability

SUSTAINABILITY

Increasing efficiency, reducing GHG emissions, and conserving natural resources: That’s just the beginning of how we can help you build a smarter, more sustainable supply chain.

In the Business of a Better Planet

Sustainability drives us. In 2007, we named the industry’s first chief sustainability officer, and in 2021, we set an ambitious, science-based target to reduce GHG emissions by 2034. Let us help you grow with the most sustainable way to ship freight over land. Check out our latest Forging a Better Tomorrow report and its highlights below.

 

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Low shot of Norfolk Southern employee riding front of eco train to improve sustainable rail transport

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Conserving natural resources and reducing our impact on the environment are fundamental to our business. We invite our customers and partners to work with us to meet their sustainability goals and build a better planet.

Carbon Calculator

Reduce emissions and shipping costs. By shipping with rail, our customers save about 15 million metric tons of CO2 each year.

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Sustainability Initiatives

We’re taking bold action and innovative approaches that move our business sustainably forward.

View Our Initiatives
Aerial view of three Norfolk Southern employees working in a marsh to help with sustainable rail transport.

Environmental Stewardship

From South Carolina wetlands to the Virginia coast and beyond, we continue to expand our decades-long conservation efforts driving sustainable land use and enhancing biodiversity.

See Our Progress
Long aerial view of wetlands winding through trees showing environmental impact.

INTRODUCING

RailGreen: An Industry First Solution

We’re here to tackle our customer’s toughest challenges. RailGreen is a first-of-its-kind solution enabling customers to reduce emissions on rail shipments. Developed in collaboration with 123Carbon — the leading, independent platform for book & claim — RailGreen makes Norfolk Southern the world’s only freight railroad to offer verified certificates for supply chain emissions reduction.

 

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Brosnan Forest Train with Blue Sky and Fog

Our Vision

Forging a Better Tomorrow

Our goal is to create a more sustainable world, a brighter future for our employees, and help our customers achieve their sustainability goals. Our latest Forging a Better Tomorrow report highlights all we do to drive sustainability, support our people and more.

Read the Report
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How Intermodal Fuel Efficiency can Impact Your Supply Chain Emissions Goals

More than a fourth of our customers have declared public goals for carbon emissions reduction – goals that we aim to support through a more sustainable rail supply chain.

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5 benefits of intermodal shipping

MEASURING OUR IMPACT

OUR RESULTS

We push the sustainability of rail further with bold leadership and deliberate action. See how we're moving the world and delivering the low carbon economy.

~$1.5 BILLION

We invested $1.5 billion in our locomotives, freight cars, and tracks to serve you better.

75%

Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces greenhouse gas emissions 75% on average.1

7X

Trains are up to seven times more fuel-efficient than trucks.2

1. AAR Analysis of EPA: U.S. GHG Emissions from Transportation, 2021 2. "Emissions From Rail vs. Trucking Report" Stanford University 2022

A Sustainable Foundation

Five Pillars of Environmental Sustainability

At Norfolk Southern, sustainability is built on more than just one action or initiative.

  • White icon of a cloud on a navy blue circle representing decarbonization in sustainable rail transport

    Decarbonization

    To help guide us in meeting our science-based target to reduce carbon emissions, we’re developing our Climate Transition Plan for release by the end of 2023.

A Clear Path Forward

Our Science-based Target

A science-based target, or SBT, is a company’s ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions in accordance with the latest climate science. In 2021, we announced our science-based target to achieve a 42%  reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2034.

Black blue red and yellow logo with waves in a circle that says Science Based Targets, driving ambitious corporate climage action

Additional Resources

Download the statement of Greenhouse Gas Emissions completed by an independent account review.

Download 2023 Emission Reportopens in a new tab

Read Norfolk Southern's Climate Change Questionnaire for the global disclosure system CDP.

Download CDP Filing Reportopens in a new tab

 

Download Norfolk Southern's Climate Transition Plan for a low-carbon future.

Download EXECUTIVE SUMMARYopens in a new tab

Download FULL REPORTopens in a new tab

Previous Reports

2021 In the Business of a Better Planet Report
opens in a new tab2022 In the Business of a Better Planet Report opens in a new tab
2023 Forging a Better Tomorrow Reportopens in a new tab