Norfolk Southern Launches Industry-First Verified Emissions Reduction Program for Freight Customers

On March 31, 2025, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) introduced RailGreen, a new program that allows freight rail customers to reduce their supply chain emissions through verified carbon reduction certificates. With this launch, Norfolk Southern becomes the first freight railroad globally to offer a certified solution of this kind.

Key highlights:

RailGreen is built on Norfolk Southern’s third-party certified use of biofuels, generating Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) that customers can purchase and apply to their supply chain emissions. The program was developed in collaboration with 123Carbon, using blockchain-backed tracking to ensure accuracy and prevent double counting.

The process works as follows:
- Norfolk Southern’s use of certified biofuels generates emissions reduction certificates.
- Customers purchase these certificates to help meet their sustainability goals.
- Norfolk Southern uses the proceeds to increase its procurement and use of low-carbon biofuels across its operations.

The program is designed to scale across Norfolk Southern’s 22-state network, allowing customers to implement it wherever they move freight by rail.

According to Ed Elkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Norfolk Southern, “RailGreen reduces customers’ emissions, increases our biofuel use and solves a long-term industry challenge.”

Jeroen Van Heningen, Managing Director at 123Carbon, stated that the program provides a verifiable and transparent approach to emissions reduction. He emphasized the role of EACs in providing shippers with confidence and credibility in their sustainability reporting.

RailGreen aligns with Norfolk Southern’s broader commitment to sustainable freight solutions, which includes:
- Doubling biofuel usage since 2022
- Joining the Clean Fuels Alliance America
- Increasing transport of biofuels and feedstocks
- Using technologies that enhance locomotive fuel efficiency
- Supporting community-focused sustainability initiatives

With supply chain emissions being one of the most difficult to track and reduce, RailGreen offers a practical and credible path for customers to meet climate goals while leveraging rail’s inherent emissions advantage over trucking.

More information is available at www.norfolksouthern.com/railgreen.