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NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen

NS

NS brengt per dag meer dan 2,3 miljoen reizigers in Europa op een duurzame manier van deur tot deur met trein, bus, tram, OV-fiets of alternatieven als de Zonetaxi en Greenwheels.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Walter Goetz (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

27 Jan 2020 · Rail

Meeting with Frans Timmermans (Executive Vice-President)

27 Jan 2020 · Rail sector and the Green Deal

Response to A new Circular Economy Action Plan

20 Jan 2020

Dutch Railways (NS) NS is the largest rail passenger carrier in the Netherlands: Dutch Railways carries over 1.1 million passengers a day. NS electric trains are a very energy- and climate-friendly means of transport with low CO2 emissions. At the 385 stations NS offers a range of facilities to serve passengers. Position of NS In developing a new action plan for the circular economy, the European Commission should have sufficient attention for the standardization of circular standards and indicators (for example: CO2 emissions as a standardized indicator for energy and climate). The European Commission can also play an important role in promoting sustainable and circular procurement. It can do so by setting requirements for the use of recyclable materials in tenders, e.g. by imposing minimal percentages of recycled content (to prevent the use of virgin materials, to prevent the burning of recycled material and to promote a market for recyclable materials; these efforts can produce different standards per product group). Moreover, the Action Plan should focus on life extension of the rolling stock (through e.g. modernization, repairs, etc.), and provide a stimulus for this focus. The Action plan should stimulate innovations that encourage the reuse of raw materials; this can relate to technology (think of improved "post-separation techniques", use of recycled materials in new applications), but also to creating new markets (creating scale) and new revenue models. From the perspective of Green Deal waste separation (of consumer waste), it is important to develop the post-separation market by increasing the demand for post-separation capacity (from businesses/governments) and increasing the number of post-separation facilities. Innovation and investments will also be necessary in order to optimize the results of post-separation (i.e. to extract more valuable reusable flows) and to create a market for the post-separation flows. A materials passport ensures that materials are registered during their lifespan on the basis of, among other things, financial value, lifespan and quality, etc. As of this moment, it is very difficult for railways to obtain materials passports for trains purchased from train suppliers, as companies are not obliged to describe the exact types and quantities of materials used in their products. As a result, buyers and consumer do not always have the knowledge to separate, recycle or reuse materials properly. Additionally, they are not able to effectively assess whether hazardous substances are used (for example: paint containing Chrome 6). An obligation to provide insight and transparency by means of a materials passport can speed up the transition to a circular economy and decrease the number of health hazards. The Action Plan should also set requirements for the design of products so that they become reusable or recyclable. As of this moment there are many products (such as packaging) that consist of composite materials, which means that they cannot be recycled or reused at the end of their life. Use of mono materials in products can make a major contribution. Lastly, there is a great need for European research program into the recycling and reusability of certain types of material that are currently not or insufficiently recyclable. Example: "thermoset composites" are released on a large scale from trains but also from airplanes, windmills etc.
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Meeting with Joao Aguiar Machado (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

21 Apr 2015 · 4th Railway Package