Sustainable Development Leaders

Russian Railways came first in five out of 27 nominations of the 3rd All-Russian Contest of the Best Environmental Practices "Reliable Partner - Ecology". The company received awards for the best projects in education, waste management and energy conservation.

The contest is organized by "Reliable Partner" Association together with the All-Russian Public Organization for the Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources "Russian Ecological Society".

The contest is aimed at assisting federal and regional authorities in the effective implementation of the "Ecology" National Project in terms of identifying the most successful and effective environmental practices and projects, as well as the promotion of environmental modernization among the business community.

The contest is supported by the Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management of the Federation Council, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and other agencies.

In 2021 a new nomination, "Digitalization in the handling of production and consumption wastes", was added to the contest, where Russian Railways took first place for participation in the pilot operation of the federal state information system of accounting and control over the handling of hazard classes I and II waste. The award was presented to the company by the state corporation "Rosatom", the Federal Management Operator of Hazard Classes I and II Waste. 

"The system is really logical and user-friendly. Operations under the new conditions will make this area transparent for the management of enterprises where a lot of waste is generated, contracts will be concluded in the system at a single tariff, raw materials will be transferred to operators on time and processed with quality," says Anatoly Khramtsov, Russian Railways Deputy General Director - Chief Engineer. "It will make it possible to avoid potential reputational risks, as the inspection authorities will be able to see the waste movement scheme online".

Sverdlovsk Railway was awarded for the best project in efficient industrial waste management. This branch of Russian Railways has created a technological line for recycling rubber products waste generated during disassembly of railroad ties. As a result, recycled raw materials are used to produce rubber crumb, which is required for the production of rubber flooring. 

The Moscow Regional Directorate of Railway Stations was awarded for the best educational project in ecology. They organized lectures on the benefits of selective waste accumulation, passenger questionnaires, exhibitions of young artists and other events for environmental education among passengers.

The Moscow Rapid Transit Directorate was awarded for the best project in energy saving and energy efficiency improvement. The project developed by the Directorate is called "Recuperative braking on Lastochka electric trains". During the period of operation of these electric trains from 2016 to 2020, the Moscow Rapid Transit Directorate of the Moscow Central Circuit reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 thousand tons of CO2.

The fifth prize winner was the private preschool educational institution Kindergarten No. 243 (Amur Region, Erofei Pavlovich settlement, part of the departmental educational network of Russian Railways), which was awarded for the best project in reducing the negative impact of industrial enterprises and housing and communal utilities on water bodies. Children studied the condition of water in the Urka River, and to draw the authorities' attention to its quality, containers for accumulating waste were purchased and informational banners were made and installed.

During the awarding ceremony, Alexei Mayorov, Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management of the Federation Council and the head of the organizing committee of the contest, noted that the winning projects have proven their consistency, effectiveness and potential for further dissemination in other regions. "Ecological transformation of businesses can become one of the main drivers of the country's economic development, international cooperation, and the establishment of mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation," said Alexei Mayorov.

Russian Railways is also recognized abroad for its environmental achievements. In 2021, the company won the "BRICS Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals" contest in the "Accessible and Clean Energy" category and was a runner-up in the "Health and Wellbeing" category.  The contest was held by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry under the country's BRICS Presidency to identify the most promising initiatives, technologies and solutions from the BRICS member countries, the implementation of which can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. About 300 projects from five BRICS member countries participated in the contest. Read more about the contest in the next publications of "1520. International".
Arina Belan