Norfolk Southern (NS), in collaboration with 123Carbon, has introduced the RailGreen program to help its customers reduce emissions from their freight rail shipments.
“Shipping by rail versus truck reduces emissions 75% on average,” NS noted in its March 31 announcement. “Freight customers can address the remaining 25% of emissions through RailGreen. Emissions within a company’s supply chain are one of the hardest to track and tackle … RailGreen makes it possible.”
How does it work? NS’s biofuel use is third-party certified, generating RailGreen certificates, according to the Class I railroad. Customers can purchase these certificates to apply toward their supply chain emissions. As customers purchase certificates, NS said it acquires more low-carbon biofuel for use across its operations.
“The RailGreen process uses 123Carbon’s blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) to certify that each ton of reduced CO₂e is uniquely tracked to prevent double counting,” NS explained. “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.”
This “first-of-its-kind solution” for freight rail is part of NS’s sustainability strategy, according to the railroad, which debuted a web-based carbon calculator for customers in 2008 and updated it in 2022.
“Rail is already the most sustainable way to transport goods over land,” NS Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ed Elkins said. “RailGreen takes emissions savings to the next level. RailGreen reduces customers’ emissions, increases our biofuel use and solves a long-term industry challenge.”
“We are proud to partner with Norfolk Southern to deliver verified, transparent emissions reduction to the freight rail industry,” 123Carbon Managing Director Jeroen Van Heiningen said. “RailGreen represents a groundbreaking shift by providing real, measurable supply chain decarbonization for freight rail. Our blockchain-backed Environmental Attribute Certificates ensure every ton of reduced CO₂e is uniquely tracked and accounted for, providing shippers with confidence and credibility needed to meet their sustainability goals.”
