SDGs
The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are 17 goals formulated by the United Nations to make the world a better place by 2030. NS contributes to these goals and has included them in its sustainability strategy. We use this strategy to give practical substance to the term ‘sustainable’, as used in our vision of ‘Keeping the Netherlands accessible in a sustainable manner - for everyone.’
We focus on our contribution to solving the climate problem (in particular, by reducing CO2 emissions) and how we can enlarge that contribution. After all, climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time - but also an issue where we, as NS, can make a real difference for future generations. Our approach is based on five key focus areas: zero emission, circular and green enterprise, by everyone and for everyone. In addition, we also help solve other major societal challenges, such as social inequality and the housing construction challenge.
In 2022, together with our stakeholders, we identified the SDGs of particular relevance to them that could benefit from additional future contributions by NS. This has resulted in a list of nine SDGs that are relevant for our organisation.
The international railway organisation IUC conducted a benchmark study among its members, in 2022, for their contributions to the SDGs. In all, 36 railway companies, including NS, submitted data for this first Rail Sustainability index (RSi). We achieved the highest possible scores on nearly all SDGs.
NS strategy | Contributes to these sub-goals of the SDGs | Impact on SDG sub-goal is measured by this indicator | How will NS measure its impact? | This is how NS knows its impact on SDG: | |
Zero-emission Enterprise | 7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | 7.2.1. Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption | → | % Matching power consumption with green generation | 7, 9 and 13** |
 | → | Number of MWh generated on NS land/buildings | |||
→ | The number of m3 gas consumption | ||||
7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. | 7.3.1. Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP | → | The energy consumption per passenger kilometre | 7, 9 and 13** | |
9.4 By 2030 upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable. | 9.4.1. CO2 emissions per unit of value added | → | CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre | 7, 9 and 13** | |
Circular Enterprise | 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources | 12.2.1. Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP | → | % circular inflow | 12 |
 | 12.2.2. Domestic material consumption, domestic material consumption per capita/GDP. | → | % circular inflow | 12 | |
12.4. By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle. | 12.4.2. Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated | → | Kg of hazardous waste generated | 12 | |
12.5. By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse | 12.5.1. National recycling rate, tonnes of material recycled | → | % circular outflow | 12, 13** | |
Green Enterprise | 12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources | 12.1.1. Sustainable consumption and production | → | % vegetable supply | 12 |
 | 12.2.1. Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP | → | Indicator under development* | 12 | |
12.3 By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses | 12.3.1. Global food loss index | → | Indicator under development* | 12, 13** | |
15.5 Significant action to reduce the loss of biodiversity | 15.5.1. Red List Index | → | Indicator under development* | 15 | |
For & by everyone | 11.2 Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. | 11.2.1. Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities | → | % main rail network stations with travel assistance | 11 |
 | → | Independently accessible rolling stock: % of sprinter fleet | |||
11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities | 11.7.2. Proportion of persons victim of physical or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence. | → | % main rail network stations with travel assistance | 11 | |
5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere | 5.1.1. Non-discrimination framework/code | → | % share of women in senior management | 5 | |
5.1.2. Women by level of responsibility | → | pay gap monitoring | |||
5.4 Recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate | 5.4.1. Parental leave options for all employees | → | parental leave | ||
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life | 5.5.1. Women by level of responsibility | → | % share of women in senior management | ||
5.5.2. Non-discrimination framework/code | → | pay gap monitoring | |||
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value | → | # sustainable jobs | 8 | ||
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training | |||||
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment | |||||
10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status | 10.2.1. Job opportunities for highly-educated refugees | → | # work experience placements UAF | 10 | |
10.2.2. Women by level of responsibility | → | % share of women in senior management | |||
10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status | 10.2.3. Proportion of employees with multicultural background | → | NWA interventions | ||
10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard | 10.3.1. Non-discrimination framework/code | ||||
Sustainable Mobility  | 9.1. Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and trans-border infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all | 9.1.2. Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport | → | We annually measure the impact of NS on society by means of the True Value Model | 7,9,11,12 en 13**. |