Building a Safety Culture and Sustainable Development at Russian Railways (JSC RZD)

Sustainable Development as an Integral Part of RZD's Strategy

The concept of sustainable development (ESG) has long ceased to be just a fashionable trend and has become the foundation for the long-term planning of major companies. For JSC RZD, as a systemically important enterprise of the country, this agenda is a natural extension of their activities. In his presentation, Andrey Lisitsyn details how the company integrates sustainable development principles into its business processes, despite external challenges and sanction restrictions.

The speaker emphasizes that not a single project in the field of ecology and social responsibility has been stopped. Moreover, RZD continues active interaction at the international level, participating in working groups and climate conferences such as COP27. This proves that the environmental and social agenda has no borders and remains a priority for the global transport community.

HSE through the Prism of ESG: From Vision Zero to Employee Comfort

The connection between HSE and sustainable development goals may seem unobvious, but the speaker demonstrates by example how these areas complement each other. The pursuit of zero injuries (Vision Zero) is not just an ambitious goal, but a fundamental principle of caring for people.

An important element of sustainable development is employee engagement and feedback. The presentation details an example of developing a new collection of special clothing for women. This project was implemented based on direct requests from female workers, demonstrating a targeted approach to ensuring comfort and safety. As the speaker notes, without attention to people's needs, it is impossible to build an effective sustainable development system.

Furthermore, the importance of building a safety culture both at work and in everyday life is emphasized. Risky behavior in everyday life inevitably transfers to work processes, so forming the right habits and mentality is a key task for reducing injuries.

Environmental Initiatives: Climate Projects and the Circular Economy

RZD's environmental strategy includes a wide range of initiatives aimed at reducing negative environmental impact. The speaker highlights several key areas:

• Climate projects and forest protection. RZD actively participates in extinguishing landscape fires using 309 specialized fire trains. This unique project not only protects infrastructure but also contributes to the preservation of forests, which is recognized by experts as an important contribution to combating climate change.
• Green supply chains. The company engages its suppliers in the environmental agenda. An example is the agreement with EVRAZ on the production of "green rails" with a low carbon footprint. Greenhouse gas emissions during their production were reduced by 75%, which is confirmed by independent international verification.
• Recycling and waste management. RZD implements the "waste to income" principle, striving for a circular economy. To date, 83% of the company's waste is recycled, and work is underway to involve the remaining volumes. The installation of reverse vending machines at railway stations is one of the steps to scale this practice.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How global sustainable development goals are integrated into the strategy of a major transport company?
• Why employee feedback is critical for improving working conditions and creating comfortable workwear?
• How the use of fire trains helps in implementing climate projects and protecting forests?
• How the company encourages suppliers to reduce their carbon footprint when producing materials?
• What steps are being taken to achieve the maximum level of recycling of industrial and household waste?