Hitachi Rail on Nov. 26 (World Sustainable Transport Day) published its 2025 Sustainability Statement, reaffirming a commitment to “leading the sustainable development of the mobility sector by driving innovation, reducing environmental impact, and promoting responsible practices across its operations and partnerships.”
This follows the April launch of a 149-page sustainability report and strategy, PLEDGES, by Hitachi, which operates globally in four sectors—Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries—and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses.
“With sustainability at the core of its business strategy, Hitachi developed a group-wide strategy, ‘PLEDGES,’ consisting of seven strategic pillars that underpin Hitachi’s sustainability efforts, along with the targets it aims to achieve over the next three years,” reported Hitachi Rail, whose integrated business offering includes rail transport vehicles, signaling systems and digital technology, service and maintenance activities, as well as turnkey solutions worldwide. “The ambitious targets include a 75% reduction by 2027 (versus 2019) in greenhouse gases at its operational sites (Scope 1 and 2).”
Hitachi Rail’s 108-page Sustainability Statement covers Fiscal Year 2024, which included the closing of its Thales Ground Transportation Systems acquisition, increasing its global footprint to more than 50 countries and its workforce from 15,000 people to nearly 24,000 people worldwide.
Among the Statement highlights, according to Hitachi Rail:
- “Zero waste to landfill at the Hagerstown (USA), Naples, and Reggio Calabria (Italy) sites.
- “Carbon-neutral digital factory opened in Hagerstown: powered entirely by renewable electricity and photovoltaics.
- “Continued progress on ‘tri-mode’ trains, including a UK contract for intercity battery trains, offering flexibility to run on electrified and non-electrified tracks.
- “Applied Eco-Design principles to 100% of new vehicles developed.
- “Expanded use of digital technologies including the launch of HMAX to optimize energy efficiency and accelerate the ecological transition.
- “Advanced the BeWell program, promoting the well-being and mental health of our employees.”
“Guided by the “strong belief that valuing diversity and fostering an inclusive culture strengthens the business, drives innovation, and enables the company to better serve its customers and communities, in FY24 Hitachi Rail continued to advance its commitment to inclusion and equity through dedicated programs and initiatives,” the company noted. “Across FY24, employee engagement increased by nearly five percentage points, year on year. Based on its founding philosophy to ‘Contribute to society through the development of superior, original technology and products,’ Hitachi has been addressing social issues over its 110-year history. This philosophy is reflected in its new management plan, Inspire 2027, which aims to deliver value to society and enhance corporate value by focusing on social issues and further leveraging Hitachi’s strength in IT, OT, and products. With the global competitive landscape rapidly changing, Hitachi believes in sustainability as a foundation of competitiveness.”
According to Hitachi Rail, its 2025 Statement aligns with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and “unveils a renewed Double Materiality Assessment (DMA) approach under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), supported by extensive stakeholder engagement.” This methodology, it noted, “integrates financial performance, risk management, and operational activities, ensuring compliance and best practice through a comprehensive evaluation of material ESG topics.”
“Hitachi Rail is a business with a clear social purpose and our 2025 Statement underlines that sustainability is at the core of our growth,” said Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail. “By embedding the PLEDGES strategy at the core of our operations and decision-making, we are positioning our business to meet global challenges and deliver on our mission: the sustainable mobility transition.”
