Abstract

Every organisation endeavours to integrate sustainability into its business operations. Network Rail has also embedded various sustainability measures as part of its policy and strategies. In particular, Network Rail has embedded sustainability in its supply chain, environment sustainability, waste management and embodied carbon, climate change and weather resilience, and social impact. 

 

Introduction

            Various definitions of the word sustainability have emerged over the years, but perhaps the one that has enjoyed widespread application is the one by the 1987 Brundtland Report, in which sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,' (cited by Fisher et al. 2013, p. 407). Network Rail has adopted this particular definition of sustainability. The goal of this essay is to explore how Network Rail has integrated sustainability into its business.

How has Network Rail integrated sustainability in its operations?

            Network Rail has integrated sustainability into its strategies and policy, thus influencing how the company does its business. In order for an organisation to achieve sustainability, it must balance its social, environmental, and economic aspects (Balch 2013). This is something that Network Rail endeavours to achieve. To identify the key area of sustainability that the company ought to concentrate on, Network Rail has employed a similar approach to its environmental management systems in which the organisation's activities are evaluated in order to identify areas of opportunities and impact. Once these have been identified, they provide the organisation with a platform upon which it can then develop such robust measures as qualitative discussion and quantitative data in the quest to track progress regarding sustainability.

Supply chain

            Network Rail has also integrated the sustainability strategy in its supply chain. This has in turn enabled the organisation's Infrastructure Projects to develop targets and objectives with the goal of quantifying quantitative data regarding Network Rail's performance in terms of its sustainability goals (Network Rail 2015). The target measures diverse issues, including health and safety, waste management, opportunities for local employment, financial efficiencies, and biodiversity.

Environmental sustainability

            In terms of environmental sustainability, Network Rail has endeavoured to balance ecological value, the community neighbouring its rail lines and the need for risk management due to possible delays by vegetation on the line (Network Rail 2015).

Waste management

            In terms of waste management, the organisation has developed a waste strategy that combines the main activities of engineering, design, supply chain and procurement management, and environmental management, with the goal of integrating the principles of materials, designing out waste, waste hierarchy, and resource efficiency (Network Rail 2014). Additionally, the organisation has also resorted to the procurement of timber that has been sourced sustainably.

Embodied carbon

            Network Rail has also conducted trials the rail industry toolkit with the goal of measuring and reducing embodied carbon. This is the carbon dioxide emitted during the construction, transport, and manufacture of building materials, including end of life emissions. Presently, Network Rail is developing a strategy that will see the organisation integrate the use of the rail industry toolkit across its business. 

Climate change and weather resilience

            Network Rail has also enhanced its climate change and weather resilience programme in dealing with the effects of severe weather. Towards this end, the organisation has published climate change adaptation and weather resilience plans for its various routes (Network Rail 2014). This is aimed at explaining the impact of weather on the railway and the likely effect of climate change on the organisation’s infrastructure.

Social impact

            In a bid to enhance its social impact performance, Network Rail has had to review how its activities, decisions, and operations affect its suppliers and employees, the community, as well as other stakeholders (Network Rail 2015). This includes employees’ contributions to a charitable cause.

Conclusion

            In sum, Network Rail has been actively involved in efforts to embed sustainability in its various business operations by making it part of the organisational policy and strategies. In particular, the organisation has implemented sustainability measures in its waste management operations, and in reducing embodied carbon through the use of the rail industry toolkit. Other measures include the use of sustainable timber, climate change adaptation and weather resilience, and social impact.

  

References

Balch O (2013). Is Network Rail on track for sustainability? The Guardian [Online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/network-rail-on-track-sustainability [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]

Fisher E, Fisher EC, Lange B & Scotford E (2013). Environmental Law: Text, Cases & Materials. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Network Rail (2014). Sustainable Development Strategy Our vision and strategy: A railway fit for the future 2013 – 2024. [Online]. Available at: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/strategicbusinessplan/cp5/supporting%20documents/transforming%20network%20rail/sustainable%20development%20strategy.pdf [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]

Network Rail (2015). Sustainability Update. [Online]. Available at: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/sustainability-update-2015/ [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]

Network Rail (2015). Delivering a railway fit for the future: Network Rail sustainable development performance 2014/15 [Online]. Available at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/Network-Rail-Sustainable-Development-Update-2014-15.pdf [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]