Class I Briefs: CN, NS, UP

CN has recognized 58 customers and supply chain partners under its EcoConnexions Partnership Program, which “celebrates companies that are doing their part to minimize their impact on the environment and are committed to emissions reduction, energy efficiency and biodiversity.” (Image Courtesy of CN via Twitter)

CN recognizes 58 customers and supply chain partners for their commitment to sustainability. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) donates $600,000 to 26 organizations to help combat homelessness, and pays tribute to its craft railroaders in local newspaper advertisements; and Union Pacific (UP) reports its first-time inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America.

CN on Dec. 15 recognized 58 customers and supply chain partners “that drive sustainable business practices” under its EcoConnexions Partnership Program. The program “celebrates companies that are doing their part to minimize their impact on the environment and are committed to emissions reduction, energy efficiency and biodiversity,” according to the Canadian Class I railroad.

Evaluations to select companies are completed by an independent third-party specialized in sustainability, based on each applicant’s policies, reporting, targets and environmental initiatives, CN reported.

This year, in honor of the 58 companies’ commitment, CN, in collaboration with Tree Canada, will plant 100,000 trees in Canada and the United States.

The recognized companies are:

1. Alcoa Corporation
2. ArcelorMittal Dofasco, G.P.
3. Atlantic Container Line
4. BASF Canada
5. Bonduelle Canada
6. Bunge North America
7. Canfor
8. Cargill
9. Cascades
10. Cenovus Energy
11. CF Industries
12. CMA CGM (America) LLC
13. COSCO Shipping Lines (North America)
14. Domtar
15. DuPont
16. Evergreen Shipping Agency (America)
17. Ford Motor Company
18. Gibson Energy
19. Halifax Port Authority
20. Hapag-Lloyd America
21. Honda Canada
22. Ingredion
23. J.B. Hunt
24. Kraft Heinz Canada
25. Kruger Products LP
26. Labatt Brewing Company
27. Loblaws
28. Louisiana Pacific
29. Maersk Line
30. Maple Leaf Foods
31. McAsphalt Industries
32. Michelin North America
33. Mondelēz International
34. Montreal Port Authority
35. MSC (Canada)
36. Nissan North America
37. Nouryon
38. Ocean Network Express (ONE)
39. OOCL USA
40. Owens Corning
41. PepsiCo Canada
42. Prince Rupert Port Authority
43. Resolute Forest Products Canada
44. Sultran
45. Suncor
46. Teck Coal
47. Tenaris Global Services USA
48. Toyota Canada
49. UPS
50. Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
51. Viterra
52. Volkswagen Group Canada
53. Vopak
54. Walmart Canada
55. West Fraser Timber
56. Weyerhaeuser
57. Yang Ming
58. ZIM Integrated Services

NS on Dec. 15 reported that it will distribute approximately $600,000 in grants to 26 organizations that provide shelter and services for the homeless across its 22-state network. The grant recipients were chosen “based on cities that had high rates of homelessness per capita and where NS has a considerable employee-based and operations,” according to the Class I railroad. Many also provide wrap-around services such as mental health assessments, job assistance and permanent housing. Because homelessness affects a diverse cross-section of the population, NS said, the selected organizations represent families, women, men, women with children, youth/young adult, veterans, and senior citizens.

The grant recipients are:

1. Bethesda Mission of Harrisburg (Men’s Mission/Women’s Mission), Harrisburg, Pa.
2. City Rescue Mission, Jacksonville, Fla.
3. Cooperative Downtown Ministries d/b/a Firehouse Shelter, Birmingham, Ala.
4. Covenant House Michigan, Detroit, Mich.
5. Covenant House New Orleans, New Orleans, La.
6. Covenant House of Georgia, Atlanta, Ga.
7. Family Promise of the Main Line, King of Prussia, Pa.
8. First Light, Birmingham, Ala.
9. Food for Our Journey, Birmingham, Ala.
10. ForKids, Inc., Norfolk, Va.
11. Gateway Center, Atlanta, Ga.
12. Greater Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, Chattanooga, Tenn.
13. Haven House Services—Wrenn House, Raleigh, N.C.
14. Knox Area Rescue Ministries, Knoxville, Tenn.
15. Ministry of Caring (Mary Mother of Hope House I II III), Wilmington, Del.
16. Miriam’s House, Lynchburg, Va.
17. Nicholas House, Atlanta, Ga.
18. Pathways, Birmingham, Ala.
19. Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless, Inc., Portsmouth, Va.
20. reStart Inc., Kansas City, Mo.
21. Roark-Sullivan Lifeway Center, Charleston, W.Va.
22. Southeast Inc. (Friends of the Homeless), Columbus, Ohio
23. St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore (Sarah’s Hope Family Shelter), Baltimore, Md.
24. The Apostles’ House, Newark, N.J.
25. Uniting Partners for Women and Children, Louisville, Ky.
26. Wheeler Mission Ministries, Inc. (Men’s Mission/Women’s Mission), Indianapolis, Ind.

Additionally, NS this week recognized its craft railroaders with a “salute” running in 21 newspapers serving communities around its operations and in the hometowns where many of its employees live (see above).

“Every day, thousands of our dedicated craft colleagues safely keep freight rolling and America’s economy moving,” NS reported in a Dec. 15 LinkedIn post. “These skilled railroaders kept our trains moving through a pandemic, and they keep working through nights, weekends, and holidays to ensure our customers’ freight gets to its destination. … We are honored to call these women and men who work on the frontlines our Thoroughbred teammates. Thank you for all you do to move the weight of the world.”

UP was selected for the first time to be part of the DJSI North America, which benchmarks corporate sustainability performance based on an assessment of governance, economic, environmental and social criteria, the railroad reported on Dec. 15.

“Union Pacific is proud to be recognized as part of the prestigious DJSI list as a result of our environmental and sustainability efforts,” said Beth Whited, UP’s Executive Vice President—Sustainability and Strategy, and Chief Human Resource Officer. “Railroads are the most environmentally responsible way to transport ground freight, and we are committed to further reducing our carbon footprint, working hand in hand with our customers and communities to ensure a shared sustainable future.”

UP reported that its sustainability efforts include:

• Reducing emissions. The Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) in 2021 approved the railroad’s short-term target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and GHG emissions 26% by 2030. According to UP, in 2022 it “committed to the SBTi to revalidate its short-term target in line with the 1.5°C global warming scenario and develop a long-term, science-based target to reach net-zero value chain GHG emissions by 2050.” Both targets will be published after they are validated by SBTi, the railroad said. As part of these commitments, UP awarded a $1 billion contract to Wabtec for 600 locomotive modernizations, which it said will provide approximately 350 tons of carbon reduction per locomotive per year.
• Reducing fuel consumption and boosting the use of renewable fuel and biodiesels. The railroad reported reducing fuel consumption by more than 11 million gallons in 2021 compared with 2020.

Additionally, UP in 2022 announced plans to purchase 10 battery-electric locomotives apiece from Wabtec and Progress Rail, and reported becoming the first U.S. railroad to formally support the Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures, “reinforcing its commitment to transparent disclosure.”

CN, CP and CSX have also been added to the DJSI. CN and CP are part of the DJSI World Index—CN for the 11th consecutive time and CP for the first—and CN, CP and CSX are part of the DJSI North America Index—CN for the 14th consecutive time, CP for the third, and CSX for the 12th.